ISLAMABAD: In a bold escalation of rhetoric amid strained relations betweenAfghanistan and its neighbors, Fathullah Mansoor, the son of the lateTaliban leader Akhtar Mohammad Mansoor and current deputy minister oftransport and aviation in the Taliban administration, has issued a sternwarning against what he described as “evil elements” operating from aneighboring country.
Implicitly pointing fingers at Pakistan, Mansoor asserted that these forcesare actively working to destabilize the Taliban’s grip on power in Kabuland must be decisively neutralized to safeguard the regime’s authority. Hisremarks, delivered during a recent address to Taliban loyalists, underscorethe deepening mistrust between the two nations, which share a porous borderlong plagued by insurgent activities and cross-border tensions.
Mansoor’s comments come at a time when Afghanistan’s Taliban-led governmentfaces mounting internal and external challenges, including economicisolation and sporadic uprisings from rival factions. He emphasized theimperative of unwavering obedience to the Taliban’s emirs, framing it as areligious and strategic necessity to counter external threats. “Those whoseek to undermine our rule from across the border will find no mercy,”Mansoor reportedly declared, according to sources familiar with thegathering. This language marks a significant hardening of stance,reminiscent of the fiery rhetoric that characterized the Taliban’sinsurgency era before their 2021 takeover.
The reference to a “neighboring country” leaves little room for ambiguity,given the historical context of Afghan-Pakistani relations. Pakistan haslong been accused by Afghan officials of harboring militants and providingsafe havens for groups opposed to the Kabul regime, allegations thatIslamabad vehemently denies. In turn, Pakistan has criticized the Talibanfor failing to curb cross-border attacks by the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan(TTP), which has intensified its operations from Afghan soil. Mansoor’swarning could signal potential Taliban reprisals, including targetedoperations against perceived adversaries, further inflaming the alreadyvolatile Durand Line border region.
Akhtar Mohammad Mansoor, Fathullah’s father, was a pivotal figure in theTaliban hierarchy until his death in a U.S. drone strike in May 2016.Traveling with a Pakistani passport and frequently transiting throughKarachi airport, the elder Mansoor’s movements highlighted the complexinterplay of alliances and suspicions between the Taliban and Pakistaniintelligence agencies. His killing, while crossing from Iran intoPakistan’s Balochistan province, was a major blow to the group but pavedthe way for Hibatullah Akhundzada’s ascension as supreme leader. FathullahMansoor’s rise within the Taliban ranks, including his ministerial role,positions him as a key voice in the administration, blending familiallegacy with administrative influence.
Analysts suggest that such pronouncements may be aimed at consolidatinginternal support within the Taliban by rallying against a common externalfoe. However, they risk provoking retaliatory measures from Pakistan, whichhas conducted airstrikes on Afghan territory in the past to target militanthideouts. The international community, including the United Nations andregional powers like China and India, watches closely, as any escalationcould disrupt fragile efforts toward Afghan stability and humanitarian aiddelivery.
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As the Taliban navigates governance amid global non-recognition, Mansoor’scall for neutralization of threats reflects a regime increasingly assertivein defending its sovereignty. Yet, without diplomatic breakthroughs, thecycle of accusations and counter-accusations between Kabul and Islamabadthreatens to perpetuate instability in South Asia, with broaderimplications for counterterrorism and regional security.
Source: https://aamajnews.com/
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