Former Balochistan Intelligence Minister Calls for Action Against Taliban

Jan Achakzai, the former intelligence minister of Pakistan’s Balochistan province, has made unprecedented and bold statements calling for Islamabad to take official action to overthrow the Taliban government, transfer the Afghan embassy to opposition forces, and create a buffer zone along the border for the establishment of anti-government armed groups.

Detailed Plan for Challenging the Taliban

As the relationship between Kabul and Islamabad grows increasingly strained, Jan Achakzai, a controversial political figure and former intelligence chief, has shared a clear plan via social media platform X outlining a multi-stage approach to bring down the ruling regime in Afghanistan. He asserted that the time has come for a change in the Taliban government, urging the Pakistani government to shift its foreign policy from diplomacy to direct confrontation and active support for regime change.

Official Recognition of Armed and Civilian Opposition

Achakzai’s proposal includes handing over the Afghan embassy in Islamabad to opposition groups and establishing official offices for the National Resistance Front (Panjshir) and the Freedom Front in Pakistan’s capital. He believes that this move would effectively recognize these opposition groups as a provisional government of Afghanistan. Furthermore, he emphasized the need to support civil movements, particularly those advocating for women’s rights, as part of a broader strategy for social pressure.

Creation of a Buffer Zone and Air Support for Northern Fronts

On the military front, Achakzai’s suggestions involve establishing a 30-kilometer deep buffer zone along the Durand Line to facilitate armed opposition groups. He has also gone further, calling for targeted strikes against Taliban leaders, the destruction of Afghan air infrastructure, and the provision of air support to armed opposition in northern provinces, including Badakhshan and Panjshir.

Establishment of Greater Kandahar Office in Quetta

In a move that could stir ethnic and tribal sensitivities, this Pakistani politician proposed creating a political office for the opposition under the name Greater Kandahar in the city of Quetta. This suggestion reflects an effort to establish a strong political base near Afghanistan’s southern borders to challenge the Taliban’s power center in Kandahar. These remarks come as Taliban officials have previously accused Pakistan of harboring and inciting opposition forces.