Why Pakistan is fighting the Taliban it once backed | Mapped Out

Pakistan once hoped to have a friendly neighbor in Afghanistan. But Pakistan is now fighting the Afghan Taliban it once helped create. During the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan in the 1980s, Pakistan's powerful secret service, the ISI, supported the Mujahideen fighters who formed the Taliban with money, training and weapons. The Taliban regime has been back in power since the sudden withdrawal of US and NATO troops in 2021. A recent shaky ceasefire between Pakistan and the Taliban government in Kabul is complicated by another Taliban grouping: The Pakistani Taliban or Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The TTP have been carrying out suicide bombings and attacks in Pakistan. Islamabad has accused the Afghan Taliban of backing the terrorist group and also of giving them refuge inside Afghanistan. But the Afghan Taliban has denied the claims and is now looking to Pakistan's archrival India for support. Meanwhile, a colonial-era border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, the Durand Line, is adding fuel to the fire. UPDATE February 2026: Pakistan has declared "open war" on the Afghan Taliban. There has been a wave of Pakistani air and ground strikes on Afghanistan, including on the capital, Kabul. The Afghan Taliban announced a major offensive on Pakistani military posts. Fighting continues along the border. Both sides have reported heavy losses. The UN is calling for "urgent political dialogue" to end the fighting. #mappedout Chapters: 00:00 Pakistan's deadliest year 00:56 The Taliban Pakistan helped create 03:30 Pashtun heartland 04:43 Durand Line: The colonial border issue 06:45 The TTP: The other Taliban 09:13 Pakistan's security dilemma: Pick your Taliban 12:17 US withdrawal from Afghanistan 13:10 India: Afghanistan's unexpected ally 15:01 How the conflict affects China and the region For more news go to: http://www.dw.com/en/ Follow DW on social media: ►Instagram: Instagram: dwnews ►TikTok: TikTok: dwnews ►Facebook: Facebook: deutschewellenews ►Twitter: Twitter: dwnews Für Videos in deutscher Sprache besuchen Sie: dwdeutsch #Pakistan #Afghanistan #WarOnTerror Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/user/deutsche...