Taliban Minister Muttaqi's India visit overshadowed by Kabul blast. Is Pakistan responsible?

Amid Afghan Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi’s landmark visit to India, an explosion rocked Kabul on Thursday evening. This also came soon after Pakistan sent fighter jets to target Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) positions along the border of both countries.

According to AFP, there were reports of two powerful explosions in central Kabul around 9:50 pm local time on Thursday. Though Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed the sound of an explosion, he stated no casualties have been reported.

The explosion comes a day after it lost 11 security personnel in an exchange of fire with the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan group, hinting at Pakistani involvement. Though Islamabad or Rawalpindi are yet to acknowledge it, reports are that Pakistani fighter jets were targeting TTP chief Noor Wali Mehsud.

The resident also cited “unknown jets” carried out strikes across multiple locations, with heavy explosions.

Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also known as the Pakistan Taliban, is an alliance of formerly disparate militant groups that came together in 2007. Pakistan has been blaming the attacks carried out by the group on India, even calling the organisation “Indian Proxy, Fitna al Khwarij” in an attempt to divert from the real issues. On Thursday, Sharif and deputies issued an open war cry against Afghanistan, but in vague statements, when he declared that “ facilitators were protecting terrorists who were coming from across the border.”

The timing of the attacks, which coincides with Muttaqi’s visit to India, has raised eyebrows. Especially since Islamabad is worried about India’s Afghan policy at a time when its own relations with Kabul have soured.

The budding Kabul-Delhi rapport came as a huge shock to Islamabad. It was beyond belief that their relations with the Taliban would deteriorate to such a degree, while India would establish a multilateral relationship with the new government in Kabul.

Experts believe Pakistan is directly responsible for the rise of the TTP after supporting the group since its inception in 1994 and using it as a fighting force against India, until the tables turned.

As for Kabul, a close relationship with New Delhi means a perception of legitimacy.

 

World