RAWALPINDI — Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir has placed Islamabad’s account of the two-decade Afghanistan war directly before U.S. body tasked with examining America’s longest war.
ISPR shared details of the meeting at General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, which brought Pakistan’s perspective into the work of the Afghanistan War Commission, the bipartisan congressional body examining America’s military operations, intelligence, diplomacy and reconstruction efforts during the Afghanistan war from 2001 to 2021.
CDF’s engagement with Commission is important as Pakistan remains deeply affected country throughout the conflict. Islamabad provided logistical routes for coalition forces, hosted millions of Afghan refugees and cooperated with the United States on counterterrorism, while simultaneously facing persistent American criticism over its policies toward Taliban-linked groups.
The discussions covered Pakistan’s role during the conflict, developments in Afghanistan, the changing regional security environment and the broader strategic, diplomatic and operational consequences of the war.
Munir stressed the importance of including Pakistan’s firsthand experience in the Commission’s assessment, particularly the security and strategic repercussions Islamabad says it endured during and after the conflict.
US Commission is moving toward its final assessment of a war that ended with the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021. Its work has already included extensive engagement with Pakistani officials and former civilian, military and intelligence figures. Pakistan’s role in the conflict, its relationship with Washington and the wider regional consequences of the war have emerged as important areas of examination.
Pakistan occupied a unique position during the 20-year conflict. It was a key logistical partner for international forces and an important counterterrorism interlocutor for Washington. It also absorbed a massive refugee burden and suffered repeated terrorist attacks and economic losses associated with the regional conflict.
For Islamabad, however, the Afghanistan conflict did not end with the American withdrawal. Pakistan says the security situation deteriorated after the Taliban returned to Kabul in 2021, with militant organizations operating from or connected to Afghan territory becoming a major threat.
Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), aka Fitna al-Khawarij, becomes central focus of Islamabad’s concerns. Pakistan also identifies the Balochistan Liberation Army and affiliated organizations among the groups threatening its security. Pakistani officials have cited thousands of terrorism-related deaths since 2021, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan bearing much of the impact.
Islamabad accuses the Afghan Taliban authorities of allowing militant groups to maintain sanctuaries and demands concrete, verifiable action against them. Afghan authorities have rejected those allegations and dispute Pakistan’s characterization of the situation.
