For decades, Pakistan and the Taliban were bound by the shared cause of jihad, with Islamabad acting as the militant group’s key backer. But recent events at Islamabad’s Red Mosque—a historic symbol of Islamic militancy—have laid bare their crumbling relationship. As the Taliban celebrated their Afghan victory there, Pakistan’s discomfort revealed a dramatic shift in a partnership once rooted in mutual strategy.
The Red Mosque: A Crucible of Jihad
The Red Mosque, or Lal Masjid, is a hallowed ground for both the Taliban and Pakistan’s hardliners. During the 1980s, it recruited mujahideen to fight Soviet forces in Afghanistan—a campaign backed by Pakistan and the U.S. Later, it became a haven for Taliban supporters, with its former cleric, Maulana Abdul Aziz, openly endorsing their insurgency.
When the Taliban retook Afghanistan in 2021, the mosque erupted in celebration, framing their win as an Islamic triumph. But this time, Pakistan watched uneasily. The militants they once nurtured now harbor the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)—a group attacking Islamabad—marking a stark betrayal.
From Allies to Adversaries
Pakistan’s ISI famously engineered the Taliban’s 1990s rise and sheltered its leaders post-9/11. Yet the group’s return to power has brought chaos, not control. Cross-border TTP attacks have spiked, and clashes along the disputed Durand Line underscore tensions. The Taliban reject the border, even engaging Pakistani forces—a far cry from their past obedience.
Pakistan’s Crackdown and the Red Mosque Divide
The mosque remains a ideological battleground. While its clerics glorify the Taliban, Pakistan has suppressed pro-Taliban rallies, arresting Aziz in 2023 after a charged demonstration. The site now epitomizes the fallout of Pakistan’s jihadist proxy strategy: a movement that outgrew its creator.
The Future of a Fractured Bond
Pakistan struggles to influence a Taliban-led Afghanistan that refuses to be a puppet. Rawalpindi’s leverage is waning as the group prioritizes ideology over old loyalties. For the Taliban, the Red Mosque symbolizes their roots—but their allegiance to Pakistan is over.
Once a covert partnership, their ties are now openly hostile, with the Red Mosque as a poignant backdrop. Its legacy endures, but the alliance it once fostered lies in ruins.
