Shahbaz Sharif

Tension has been increasing between Pakistan and Afghanistan for some time. Meanwhile, American magazine New Lines has reported quoting sources that after increasing differences with Taliban, Pakistan has again started political contacts with anti-Taliban leaders in Afghanistan. According to the report, Pakistan is exploring options for change in power in Afghanistan. This simply means that amidst the tension, Pakistan is now trying to bring about a change of power in the country.

New Lines magazine wrote that Islamabad is planning regime change. According to the report, relations between Afghanistan and India are improving. Recently the Foreign Minister of Afghanistan visited India. During these days, Pakistan attacked Afghanistan. Afghanistan’s coming closer to India, failure of peace talks in Istanbul and increasing activities of TTP – these are the three main reasons due to which Pakistan’s security strategy is changing. Now Pakistan is making new plans regarding this.

Wants to make Ahmed Masood the supreme leader

A source associated with ISI said that when the government of former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani was about to fall under the pressure of Taliban, the former head of Pakistan’s military intelligence agency Faiz Hameed had a secret meeting with Ahmed Masood (leader of National Resistance Front) in the Gulf country. In this meeting, there was discussion on forming an inclusive government in Afghanistan. After this, once again Pakistan hosted many members of the Afghan opposition in October.

The report also said that Pakistan has so much military capability and intelligence network that if it wants, it can change the political balance in Afghanistan by targeting Taliban leaders. However, the report also warns that if Pakistan succeeds in its plan and brings about a change in power, a new wave of refugees may enter the country.

Ahmed Masood became active again

Due to this intention, Pakistan hosted many members of the Afghan opposition in October and leaders like Yasin Zia and Ahmed Masood have become politically active again. According to the report of New Lines Magazine, for this reason people like Yasin Zia and Ahmed Masood have emerged again. According to these sources, Pakistan has activated channels of talks with anti-Taliban representatives.

What did NRF say?

Abdullah Khanjani, head of the political committee of the National Resistance Front (NRF, an armed opposition group in Afghanistan that opposes the Taliban), told this publication that the Front is “cautious” about dialogue with Pakistan because, according to him, “the Pakistani regime always tries to control and limit the opposition.” He said that any cooperation should be based on Afghanistan’s national interests and Pakistan will also have to change its attitude so that it can become a “partner of peace and stability”.

Khanjani said that getting closer to Pakistan is a double-edged sword, because many of the same leaders who are against the Taliban today have for years called the Taliban a tool of Pakistan and fear that they themselves might become a new ISI project.

Can Ahmed Masood become a contender?

According to the New Lines report, if Pakistan decides to put its political power, experience and economic and military support behind anti-Taliban groups, the situation for the National Resistance Front and the Afghan Liberation Front could change rapidly and their attacks could become more complex and widespread.

The report says that if Pakistan continues to help Taliban and Mujahideen for a long time, then Ahmed Masood and Yasin Zia can become serious contenders in the race for power in Kabul. The report also believes that if this happens, Afghanistan may return to the cycle of violence of the last decades.