The Taliban government has unveiled a controversial map, dubbed ‘Greater Afghanistan,’ fueling renewed tensions with Islamabad. This map explicitly includes significant swathes of Pakistani territory, notably large portions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Pashtun-dominated regions, as integral parts of Afghanistan. This move directly challenges the long-disputed Durand Line, which has historically served as the border between the two nations and a frequent source of cross-border conflict.
Taliban leaders have consistently rejected the Durand Line, asserting that their historical and ethnic narrative extends beyond this internationally recognized frontier. The ‘Greater Afghanistan’ map, presented to Taliban Deputy Interior Minister Mohammad Nabi Omari during a ceremony in Khost province, omits the Durand Line entirely. Local media reported the map depicts Pakistan divided along ethnic lines, with parts absorbed into Afghanistan. The deputy minister, speaking at the event, vowed to resist any new conflict with Pakistan with the same determination shown against past adversaries like the Soviet Union and the United States.
Further escalating the rhetoric, a separate Taliban military parade featured songs with explicit threats against Pakistan. One widely reported lyric declared the intention to “raise the white flag in Lahore and set Islamabad ablaze,” a statement met with enthusiastic support from Taliban fighters and officials. This provocative map release and accompanying threats underscore the deep-seated historical grievances and the Taliban’s assertive stance, potentially destabilizing Pakistan’s restive Pashtun regions.