ISLAMABAD - Former interior minister and Chairman Institute of Research and Reforms Senator A. Rehman Malik on Saturday said that Afghan Taliban were being trained to use modern weapons which could prove a threat to the whole region.

He said that passing out parade for new trained Taliban recruits was organised at an undisclosed place and country in a very impressive ceremony attended most likely by Mullah Yaqoob, the son of Mullah Omar. In a statement, Rehman Malik said that it was yet to know who was behind the training of Taliban recruits and what their targets were. 

He said that unfortunately with every passing day tension in Afghanistan was increasing which needed world attention. He said, “Peace in Afghanistan means peace in Pakistan and no country could be concerned about stability and peace of Afghanistan more than Pakistan.” He said that Pakistan was a direct victim of the Afghan-USSR war followed by the growth of Taliban, Al Qaeda, and Daesh which had been eroding our system. The changing situation in Afghanistan should be of great concern for all of us in Pakistan, he said. 

The PPP Senator said, “We need national unity when it comes to Pakistan national security being the backbone of the state. Since situation in Afghanistan directly impacts Pakistan and situation in that country is worsening, therefore, calling a meeting of Parliamentary Committee on National Security is the need of the hour.” He said that he was hoping for the formulation of a doable comprehensive strategy to cope up with future challenges after US withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Rehman Malik said that we had made countless sacrifices in war on terror in terms of sacrifice of more than 70 thousand lives of troops and civilians with huge devastation to our basic infrastructure and economic damages. “Today we have to think about why despite numerous sacrifices we are facing global isolation and being side-lined from Afghan issue,” he said. 

Senator Rehman Malik while making some shocking revelations said that Taliban had occupied more than 80% of Afghanistan which could prove a threat to the region in the days to come. He revealed that Taliban had got their military and weaponry training and this was to be seen who were behind the training and providing them with modern weapons. He said that in the very near future Taliban would be seen having their own jets. He said that it was yet to be seen were those Indian training elites who trained Taliban in Afghanistan or some central Asian country or someone else. He said that from a reliable source it was learned that “United States is leaving its weapons and Hamari jeeps along with keys in Afghanistan and question arises that why the ammunition and jeeps are not destroyed and taken away.” Rehman Malik said, “War strategists are worried that who will be the target of Taliban who are now well trained and equipped with modern weapons.” He said that this is no secret that India’s Intelligence Agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) is working in collaboration with Afghanistan’s Intelligence Agency, National Directorate of Security (NDS) to escalate tension at Pak-Afghanistan border. “In the future, the Taliban could be a threat to Pakistan, China, and Iran and they are no longer ours, they belong to India,” he added. 

Rehman Malik said that Russia had also opposed the Taliban takeover of the capital. He said that who came forward to energise the Taliban to enhance their military power and to use them against all those who were against their ideology and for their own interests in the region. He said that a regular well organised passing out parade of fully trained, well equipped with all types of infantry, armed, amour and commando training from an undisclosed place in an impressive way most likely led by Mullah Omer’s son Mullah Yaqoob in presence of other Taliban shall be alarming for all. He said that the passing out parade of Taliban recruits was better and well organised than any western country military parade. He said that it looks that Taliban will be now trained and installed under the flag of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and the time will show whether they will operate independently or be used with western remote control.