Episode 22: The Pakistan–Taliban Border Clashes & the Unresolved Pashtun Question: A Conversation with Abubakar Siddique

Hi everyone,

Welcome to Episode 22 of the Eyes on Eurasia podcast with Glen Howard. Pakistan and Taliban-ruled Afghanistan are back in the news. This time it is not about Pakistan’s support for the Taliban but an eruption in border fighting between the two countries that has created the worst tension between the two countries in recent memory. At the heart of this conflict is the still unresolved Pashtun question.

My podcast dives into the headlines on the recent clashes along the Afghan-Pakistan border to discuss the recent fighting and explore the deep rooted nature of this current round of tension. During the past week, tensions have surged between the two countries after the Taliban-led government in Kabul claimed its forces killed 58 Pakistani soldiers in a retaliatory operation along the 2,600-kilometer frontier. This latest confrontation marks one of the most serious border clashes in years and highlights the worsening relationship between the two countries.

Helping me to dissect the roots of the conflict between the Taliban ruled government in Kabul and Islamabad is Abubakar Siddique, a journalist, author, and research scholar specializing in coverage of Afghanistan and Pakistan. He has reported on South Asia and the Middle East for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty for nearly two decades and is widely recognized as one of the leading experts on the region.

Mr. Siddique’s expertise is reflected in his landmark 2014 book, The Pashtun Question: The Unresolved Key to the Future of Pakistan and Afghanistan — a work considered among the most insightful analyses of the deep-rooted tensions shaping relations between Kabul and Islamabad.

Siddique frequently speaks at leading think tanks across Europe and North America, contributes to research publications, and is regularly cited in major Western media outlets.

Enjoy the podcast!

Glen

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