Pakistan is set to host a two-day conference, “Toward Unity and Trust,” on September 3–4, bringing together figures who are largely critical of or opposed to the Taliban. The event is organized by the Islamabad-based South Asia Strategic Stability Institute—an organization focused on regional security and strategic balance—and Women for Afghan Women, a U.S.-based group dedicated to legal and social empowerment of Afghan women and girls.
Although organizers describe the conference as an academic gathering, observers see it as carrying a strong political message. Long viewed as a traditional backer of the Taliban, Islamabad now appears to be signaling a readiness to reconsider its approach. Relations between the two sides have soured in recent years due to cross-border violence by Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban’s inability—or unwillingness—to restrain them. Analysts suggest that hosting Taliban critics serves as a warning that Pakistan has alternatives on the table.
The move has not been without controversy. Former U.S. envoy for Afghan peace Zalmay Khalilzad condemned the step as “unfriendly and provocative,” warning that such meetings could heighten distrust rather than reduce tensions between Kabul and Islamabad. The Taliban, while not responding directly so far, are expected to interpret the gathering as blatant interference in Afghanistan’s internal affairs.
Inside Afghanistan, opposition to the Taliban has been fragmented and largely ineffective over the past four years. Many see this Islamabad meeting as a rare opportunity to forge a more unified voice. Still, doubts remain about whether the event will lead to substantive coordination or merely serve as a symbolic show.
Analysts argue the conference sends two clear signals: to the Taliban, that their regional legitimacy is not uncontested; and to the international community, that plural political voices linked to Afghanistan still exist. Whether this becomes a turning point depends on two key factors—Pakistan’s willingness to sustain a policy shift, and the opposition’s ability to overcome internal divisions.
If the meeting sparks lasting dialogue among anti-Taliban forces, Pakistan’s historic influence in Afghan affairs could help open limited political space inside the country. But if it amounts only to tactical maneuvering by Islamabad, aimed at pressuring the Taliban without broader change, expectations for a real shift will remain slim.
