When news broke of the death of Hamid Gul, former head of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Afghans celebrated in the streets. Gul had been instrumental in ensuring that no government in Kabul succeeded after the 1980s Afghan War and in nurturing the Taliban movement that plunged the country into perpetual conflict. Despite cultural and religious affinities, many Afghans deeply resent Pakistan, viewing it as the architect of their nation’s misery. That resentment persists today as Pakistan continues to provide support to the Taliban and allows terror groups to operate from its soil—fuelling widespread fears about the impact on Afghanistan’s already fragile security.
Pakistani Militants Bolstering Taliban Offensives
The withdrawal of US troops has placed enormous pressure on the Afghan government, as the Taliban advance deeper into urban areas. According to a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) report, around 6,000 militants from Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) are fighting alongside the Afghan Taliban. The report estimated that between 6,000 and 6,500 Pakistani fighters are present in Afghanistan, the majority affiliated with TTP, and that they are directly aiding Taliban offensives against Afghan security forces. By framing their campaign in religious terms, the TTP has aligned itself with the Taliban’s bid to topple the democratic government—an outcome that would spell disaster for human rights in Afghanistan.
Kabul’s Accusations Against Pakistan
The Afghan government has openly accused Pakistan’s ISI of facilitating training camps in Afghanistan’s eastern provinces and aiding recruitment. Other Pakistan-based groups—including Lashkar-e-Taiba, Lashkar-e-Islam, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, Tanzim-ul-Badr and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi—have also reportedly joined Taliban operations across provinces such as Kunar, Nuristan, Nangarhar, Ghazni, Logar, Khost, Paktia, Kandahar, Zabul and Helmand.
Afghanistan’s First Vice President, Amrullah Saleh, was blunt in his assessment: “The Pakistan Army is the architect, strategic master and low-profile supplier of the ongoing full-scale terror invasion in my country. Propaganda stunts will not change this reality or improve Pakistan’s image.”
Earlier in July, President Ashraf Ghani directly confronted Pakistan’s Prime Minister at an international conference in Tashkent, accusing Islamabad of enabling the Taliban and failing to act against terrorist networks. He revealed that more than 10,000 militants had crossed into Afghanistan from Pakistan in a single month.
Mounting Civilian Toll
The Taliban’s escalating campaign—fueled by Pakistani-backed fighters—has brought unprecedented civilian suffering. According to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), 5,183 civilian casualties (1,659 killed and 3,524 injured) were recorded in the first half of 2021—a 47 per cent increase on the same period in 2020. The surge has been especially acute since the US troop withdrawal began in May, with nearly as many casualties in May–June as in the preceding four months combined.
Public Anger and Protests
Outrage over Pakistan’s role has spilled onto the streets, both within Afghanistan and across the diaspora. In London, Afghans staged protests outside the Pakistan Embassy, carrying banners and chanting anti-Pakistan slogans. Demonstrations have also been reported in other capitals, as Afghans accuse Islamabad of deliberately keeping their country weak, divided and dependent for its own geopolitical advantage.
Conclusion
For many Afghans, Pakistan’s hand in the Taliban’s resurgence is not merely interference but a deliberate strategy to destabilise Afghanistan and extend its own influence. The perception is clear: Pakistan intends to keep Afghanistan subjugated, ensuring its own leverage at the expense of Afghan sovereignty and stability.