CNN-News18 reports that several high-profile members of Afghanistan’s Supreme Council of Resistance, including Yunus Qanuni, Mohammad Mohaqiq, Atta Mohammad Noor, and Salahuddin Rabbani, are expected to participate in an upcoming summit of Afghan political figures in Islamabad. The report also notes a possibility that Ahmad Massoud, leader of the Resistance Front, may attend.
According to sources cited by CNN-News18, the summit—modeled after the Taliban’s political office in Doha—is intended to lay the groundwork for establishing a permanent office of the Supreme Council of Resistance [National Council for the Salvation of Afghanistan] in Pakistan.
Senior intelligence officials told the outlet that Pakistan’s motivations go beyond its immediate security concerns. They claim that by forging closer ties with anti-Taliban leaders, Islamabad seeks to undercut India’s ability to build lasting influence in Afghanistan. One source was quoted as saying, “The logic is clear: as long as Afghanistan remains fractured, Delhi will have no stable partner in Kabul. That weakens India’s hand and strengthens Pakistan’s position.”
The summit is scheduled for the 24th and 25th of August.
While Ahmad Massoud’s participation would add symbolic weight to the gathering, sources warned it may also harm his credibility. “If Massoud aligns too closely with Islamabad, it risks damaging his reputation and betraying the anti-Pakistan legacy of his father,” said one intelligence source.
CNN-News18 notes that the summit comes after months of “covert contact” between Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency and the Resistance Council.
Sources interpret this move as a direct signal to Taliban leadership: if they fail to take action against Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) fighters allegedly operating from Afghan territory, Islamabad is prepared to empower their opposition. Pakistan has long accused the Taliban of sheltering TTP members—allegations the Taliban repeatedly deny.
“Taliban’s reluctance to rein in the group has forced Pakistan to consider options it once avoided,” said one source.
At the same time, Pakistan continues to pursue official diplomatic engagement with the Taliban. According to Geo News, a trilateral meeting between the foreign ministers of the Taliban, Pakistan, and China is set for August 19 in Kabul. A senior intelligence source told CNN-News18, “By working with both sides, Pakistan ensures that no deal in Kabul can disregard its interests.”
