Limiting India In Kabul? Pakistan To Host Afghan Opposition Leaders, Including Ahmad Massoud

Last Updated:August 18, 2025, 14:51 IST

Sources say discussions could pave way for Resistance Council to establish a formal office in Pakistan — a move reminiscent of the Taliban’s political bureau once hosted in Doha.

Ahmad Massoud, son of the late commander Ahmad Shah Massoud, is the leader of National Resistance Front of Afghanistan. (Image: Reuters)

Pakistan is preparing to convene a rare meeting of senior Afghan opposition figures later this month, a move that intelligence officials say is intended to pressure the Taliban regime and reshape the balance of influence in Kabul.

According to top intelligence sources, Islamabad’s effort goes beyond its immediate security concerns. By drawing anti-Taliban leaders into its orbit, Pakistan aims to undercut India’s ability to build lasting partnerships in Afghanistan. “The calculation is clear — if Afghanistan remains divided, New Delhi has no firm ally in Kabul. That weakens India’s reach and strengthens Pakistan’s hand," intelligence sources observed.

The meeting is expected to bring together several prominent figures from Afghanistan’s political resistance, including Younis Qanooni, Mohammad Mohaqiq, Atta Mohammad Noor, and Salahuddin Rabbani. Sources say discussions could pave the way for the Resistance Council to establish a formal office in Pakistan — a move reminiscent of the Taliban’s political bureau once hosted in Doha.

There is also speculation that Ahmad Massoud, son of the late commander Ahmad Shah Massoud, may take part. While his presence would give the gathering symbolic weight, intelligence officials caution that it could tarnish his reputation. “Massoud aligning too closely with Islamabad risks diluting his credibility and could be seen as undermining his father’s anti-Pakistan legacy," one source noted.

The move follows months of discreet contacts between Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and the Resistance Council, including earlier exploratory talks in Turkey. Officials describe Islamabad’s outreach as a direct message to the Taliban leadership: unless Kabul acts against Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants using Afghan territory, Pakistan is prepared to empower their opponents.

The TTP issue remains the sharpest point of friction between Islamabad and the Taliban government. Pakistani officials accuse the group of staging cross-border attacks from sanctuaries inside Afghanistan, while the Taliban leadership has resisted sustained action against them. “The Taliban’s reluctance to curb the TTP has forced Pakistan to consider alternatives it once avoided," sources said.

At the same time, Pakistan continues to engage the Taliban itself, carefully balancing confrontation with cooperation. Analysts suggest this dual approach is designed to reinforce Islamabad’s position as the indispensable broker in Afghan affairs. “By working with both sides, Pakistan ensures that no settlement in Kabul can ignore its interests," said a senior intelligence source.

For Islamabad, the strategy serves multiple objectives: to keep pressure on the Taliban, to limit India’s options in the region, and to highlight its centrality to any international engagement with Afghanistan. “It is not just about countering militants," one source summarised. “It is about leverage — with Kabul, with New Delhi, and with the West."

Manoj Gupta

Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

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First Published:

August 18, 2025, 14:51 IST

News world Limiting India In Kabul? Pakistan To Host Afghan Opposition Leaders, Including Ahmad Massoud

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