September 2026
Speakers:
Dr. Shabana Fayyaz (Chairperson, Defence & Strategic Studies, QAU)
Hassan Khan (Prominent Journalist, Political Analyst & Group Editor, Khyber News)
Twenty-five years after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Afghanistan remains central to the evolving security and geopolitical dynamics of South Asia. The US-led intervention, nearly two decades of international engagement, and the Taliban’s return to power in 2021 have fundamentally reshaped Afghanistan’s relations with its neighbours.
Today, evolving regional engagement, terrorism concerns, and Pakistan’s growing security challenges have opened a new chapter in Afghanistan’s geopolitical landscape.
Against this backdrop, South Asia Times (SAT) brings together leading voices for an X Space to reflect on the geopolitical transformations since 9/11 and examine what Afghanistan’s evolving strategic environment means for Pakistan and the wider region.
Research Associate, SAT
Opening the discussion, Muniba, reflected on the September 11 attacks and their consequences beyond the United States. She noted that the attacks became a major turning point in global politics, leading to the US-led “War on Terror” and military intervention in Afghanistan.
The host highlighted that while the attacks occurred in the United States, their consequences extended across the Muslim world and particularly affected South Asia. Pakistan subsequently faced prolonged security instability, terrorism, militancy and the wider consequences of the Afghan conflict.
She also highlighted the significance of Ahmad Shah Massoud’s assassination shortly before 9/11, noting the use of journalistic identities by his attackers and connecting the incident with the broader militant and geopolitical developments surrounding the attacks.
The discussion then examined how Afghanistan has evolved from the post-9/11 environment to the present-day regional order.
Academic Security Expert | Professor of Defence & Strategic Studies, Quaid-i-Azam University
Dr. Shabana Fayyaz emphasised that Afghanistan cannot be understood simply through the Taliban, arguing that its diverse ethnic, linguistic, religious and ideological composition must be taken into account.
On the Taliban–al-Qaeda relationship, she discussed the Taliban’s historical hosting of Osama bin Laden and the ideological and infrastructural connections between the two. She noted that al-Qaeda has evolved since 2001 and that the militant landscape now includes multiple organisations and networks, including ISKP, IMU and ETIM.
Discussing Afghan women and education, Dr. Shabana highlighted the resilience of Afghan women and families under restrictive conditions. She pointed to underground and alternative education networks and stressed that Afghan society is not uniform, with conditions and interpretations varying across regions.
She also discussed Pakistan’s educational support for Afghan students, while raising concerns over developments affecting Afghan medical students in Pakistan. She cautioned that policies with immediate security or administrative objectives can also have long-term consequences for Pakistan’s relationship with Afghan society.
On proxy warfare, Dr. Shabana warned against renewed regional competition turning Afghanistan into another arena for proxy conflict. She highlighted the long-standing relationship between the TTP and elements within the Afghan Taliban and stressed that the Afghan Taliban itself consists of different factions and interests.
She argued that Pakistan must recognise the limits of its influence and rethink its approach to Afghanistan. Pakistan cannot “fix” Afghanistan or control political developments in Kabul. Instead, it needs a realistic policy based on Afghanistan’s sovereignty, geography, security interests and long-term regional engagement.
Political Analyst | Group Editor, Khyber News
Discussing Ahmad Shah Massoud’s assassination, Hassan Khan highlighted the use of journalistic identity by the attackers and the broader implications for media credibility and safety in conflict zones.
He argued that the incident demonstrated how journalism can be exploited as part of asymmetric warfare, potentially undermining public trust and increasing risks for genuine journalists operating in conflict environments.
On the legacy of al-Qaeda, Hassan Khan noted that although the organisation’s operational environment has changed since 2001, militant networks and their regional connections continue to remain a significant security concern. He stressed that the consequences of Afghanistan’s militant landscape extend beyond its borders, particularly into Pakistan.
Addressing the PMDC issue involving Afghan medical students, he explained that the initial reporting created confusion regarding the number of students affected. He highlighted concerns relating to documentation, visas and registration and argued that students should be given proper notice and an opportunity to address administrative deficiencies.
At the same time, he acknowledged the importance of national security and verification, particularly given the wider security environment, while stressing that due process should be maintained.
On Pakistan’s Afghan policy, Hassan Khan called for a clear and consistent approach based on Afghanistan’s status as a sovereign state. He argued that Pakistan should deal with Kabul as a state rather than attempting to influence or manage Afghanistan’s internal political affairs.
He also highlighted the historically close social and geographical relationship between the two countries and argued for a policy that balances national security, bilateral engagement and people-to-people relations.
The discussion highlighted that 25 years after 9/11, Afghanistan remains an unfinished chapter in South Asian geopolitics.
The security environment has changed, the Taliban have returned to power, and regional actors have assumed greater roles. Yet terrorism, cross-border militancy, political uncertainty and competing strategic interests continue to shape Afghanistan’s relationship with Pakistan and the wider region.
For Pakistan, the challenge is no longer simply how to respond to developments in Afghanistan, but how to develop a sustainable long-term policy that reconciles security, sovereignty, regional connectivity and people-to-people relations.
