Jan Achakzai, the Information Minister of Balochistan, in an interview with Afghanistan International, pointed out that the Taliban is yet to convey its official viewpoint on the Durand Line to Pakistan.
Achakzai criticised the description of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border as an "imaginary line" as nonsensical.
During a discussion on Friday, he labeled the boundary between Afghanistan and Pakistan as a formally recognised and official international border.
He further clarified that Pakistan harbours no disputes with the Taliban on this issue, remarking, "If anyone harbours the foolish illusion that this border is imaginary, it remains merely a dream."
Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, the Taliban's Deputy Foreign Minister, had previously declared the absence of an official border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, instead referred to the Durand Line as an "imaginary line”.
Stanikzai firmly stated the group's refusal to acknowledge the "imaginary" Durand Line as the legitimate frontier between the two nations.
Responding to Stanikzai's comments, Achakzai dismissed them as manipulative and possibly influenced by external forces such as India.
"The Taliban has not formally presented their stance on this issue to Pakistan. If Taliban figures like Stanikzai have made such statements, I personally suspect they might be instigated by India or other entities," stated Achakzai.
The Balochistan Information Minister underscored the Taliban's attempts to deflect public attention from the challenges of unemployment, poverty, and migration.
Achakzai suggested that some government’s politicians, driven by internal necessities and aiming to shift public focus from pressing domestic issues, may seek a scapegoat, thereby straining ties with neighbours. Thus, he interpreted a senior Taliban official's populist claims as an effort to shift public scrutiny toward Pakistan and rally support.
The designation of the border as "imaginary" gained traction during Hamid Karzai's presidency when he instructed government bodies to refer to the Durand Line as such.
