Islamabad/Kabul — A strongly worded critique by Habib Hekmatyar, son of veteran Afghan leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, has reignited debate over Afghanistan’s shifting political alliances and the Taliban’s fraught relations with both former jihad-era factions and neighbouring Pakistan.
In a detailed post shared on X on 23 November, Habib Hekmatyar accused multiple Afghan political groups of abandoning long-standing ideological positions, alleging that figures who once justified United States military presence and denounced Pakistan were now seeking Islamabad’s support for political relevance.
Without naming individuals, Hekmatyar criticised what he called the “selective morality” of political actors who, he alleged, had “stood with America in the war against their own country” but now “ignore decades of their own propaganda” to seek backing from the same Pakistan they once castigated.
Implicit Criticism of the Taliban
A significant portion of his commentary was directed at the Taliban, whom he accused of rewriting the historical narrative of Afghanistan’s civil wars and overlooking their own role in decades of violence.
Hekmatyar argued that the Taliban’s depiction of past conflicts as a struggle against “foreign agents” dismissed the involvement of Afghan factions and the participation of thousands of militants who joined Taliban ranks over the years from the war affected zones of Pakistan, many of whom later coalesced into the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Analysts note that his remarks reflect growing unease among certain Afghan political figures over the Taliban’s reluctance to acknowledge the impact TTP-linked attacks have had on Pakistan. Islamabad has repeatedly urged Kabul to rein in TTP elements operating from Afghan soil, warning that cross-border militancy is a major source of regional instability.
Warnings Over Taliban’s Governance Approach
Hekmatyar alleged that the Taliban had mirrored the political exclusivity of the former Republic by refusing space to rival groups within Afghanistan’s governing structure. He warned that the Taliban’s centralised control model, combined with its restrictive policies on education and women, risked repeating the governance failures of previous eras.
He described the group’s current phase as the “final days of its honeymoon,” arguing that both past and present governments suffered when they pursued unilateral power without accommodation.
A Subtle Wedge in Afghan Politics
Diplomatic observers say Habib Hekmatyar’s remarks expose a widening political rift inside Afghanistan, with anti-Taliban factions attempting to recast themselves as more moderate alternatives while former mujahideen-affiliated networks quietly reposition for relevance.
The Taliban, meanwhile, remain under growing pressure from Pakistan over cross-border TTP attacks, an issue Kabul continues to deny, yet face internal criticism from figures who argue that the movement has rewritten the history of the civil war to absolve itself while dismissing the role of Pakistani militants who once fought in its ranks.
Analysts note that this emerging divide, sharpened by Hekmatyar’s tone, forms part of a broader legitimacy struggle within Afghanistan’s fractured political landscape at a moment when Islamabad’s security concerns have already strained Taliban–Pakistan relations.
Regional Sensitivities
Hekmatyar also cautioned the Taliban over underestimating the consequences of cross-border militancy, saying the group’s long war experience had made it “insensitive” to how even isolated attacks can trigger major geopolitical fallout, a reference interpreted by analysts as linked to Pakistan’s repeated security warnings.
Islamabad maintains that deteriorating security on its western border is directly linked to the presence of TTP leadership inside Afghanistan, an issue repeatedly raised in diplomatic exchanges. Kabul denies harbouring the group.
A Sign of Intensifying Political Recalibration
Observers note that Hekmatyar’s remarks mark yet another sign of the realignments taking shape inside Afghanistan, where political actors are testing new narratives in the absence of elections, formal opposition structures, or a national reconciliation framework.
For Pakistan, the statement is seen as tacit support for its long-standing position that Afghan political instability, and Kabul’s inability to restrain the TTP, continues to threaten the region.
