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🔍 American and Swiss experts on the Taliban refute common claims about Pakistan's role in the Taliban's 2021 Victory
❌️ Refuted Claims:
1) Pakistan's support for the Taliban was the deciding factor in the latter's 2021 takeover. The Taliban wouldn't have been able to conquer the territory they did without Pakistani support.
2) The Taliban relied on Pakistan for funding.
3) Pakistan was providing sophisticated weaponry to the Taliban such as weaponized drones.
✅️ Credible expert refutation for claims 1 & 2:
Claims 1 & 2 have been refuted and debunked by one of the world's foremost experts on the subject, Dr. Jonathon Schroden. He is a U.S. national security researcher who focuses extensively on Afghanistan.
His expert credentials:
- He is the research director for the U.S. government's official Afghanistan War Commission. In that role, he has examined the entire 20 year war, reviewed primary source evidence and interviewed key government officials, military personnel, and intelligence professionals.
- He is also a senior member of the Center of Naval Analyses, a federally funded defense research organization that conducts analysis for the U.S. government and military. There he has had held vice president and director level roles in the fields of countering threats, special operations, and strategy.
His refutation:
See the attached images.
He acknowledges that Pakistan did provide support to the taliban, but he also makes it clear that:
- Pakistan's support for the Taliban was NOT the deciding factor in the Taliban's 2021 victory. The Taliban's ability to conquer territory was not dependent on Pakistani support.
- The Taliban were proven to be largely financially self-reliant
✅️ Credible expert refutation for claim 3:
This claim was disputed by oft-cited and on-the-ground journalist Franz J. Marty, back in December of 2020.
So while this was prior to the 2021 takeover, its close enough in date to still be relevent for this conversation.
His credentials:
- Franz J. Marty is a journalist specializing in Afghanistan, where he lived and reported from 2014 to 2023. His work has focused on security, military affairs, and violent extremism, including reporting from Taliban-controlled areas, interviews with insurgents, and embeds with Afghan special forces.
- His reporting has been published by Foreign Policy, The Diplomat, IHS Jane's, and other leading outlets, and he has appeared as an Afghanistan analyst on CNN, BBC World Service, and France 24.
His Refutation:
In his article (linked below) Marty argues that there is insufficient evidence to conclude that Pakistan supplied the Taliban with weaponized drones. He notes that the drones were commercially available quadcopters rather than advanced military systems, meaning the Taliban could have acquired them through ordinary markets and modified them with relatively simple adaptations. The evidence cited for Pakistani involvement was largely circumstantial.
Marty also highlights previous allegations that Pakistan supplied the Taliban with military equipment that were later shown to be questionable, such as claims regarding advanced optics/night-vision equipment. He notes that Afghan officials had sometimes attributed Taliban capabilities to Pakistan without definitive proof, and that even if drones or components passed through Pakistan, that would not necessarily mean Pakistan supplied them. Given the availability of commercial drones and Pakistan’s role as a regional trade hub, Marty argues the evidence was more consistent with the Taliban independently acquiring and modifying drones rather than a confirmed Pakistani supply program.
His article: thediplomat.com/2020/12/fire…
📣 Main takeaway: Many people heavily exaggerate Pakistan's involvement with the Taliban. Pakistan did provide support to the Taliban, but to a significantly lesser extent than what is often claimed.
Debunks Misinfo retweeted
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif held a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister of Bangladesh H.E. Tarique Rahman on the sidelines of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The two Prime Ministers reviewed bilateral relations and expressed satisfaction at the positive momentum in Pakistan-Bangladesh ties.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated Bangladesh on assuming the Presidency of the 81st UNGA and expressed Pakistan’s support for Bangladesh’s efforts to advance the objectives of the United Nations.
The Prime Minister reaffirmed Pakistan's resolve to further deepen mutually beneficial bilateral relations with Bangladesh.
Reciprocating the sentiment, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman expressed satisfaction on the positive trajectory and noted his government's keen desire to enhance Bangladesh-Pakistan ties.
The Prime Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen cooperation in trade, investment, connectivity, education, tourism and people-to-people contacts.
The two leaders also exchanged views on regional and global developments and emphasized the importance of continued coordination at multilateral fora, particularly the United Nations.
Debunks Misinfo retweeted
Met with my brothers, Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud @FaisalbinFarhan and Foreign Minister of Türkiye Hakan Fidan @HakanFidan, along with our respective delegations, on the sidelines of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Under the framework of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement (MJDA), we reviewed progress towards establishing the institutional structures under the Agreement and exchanged views on regional and international security issues.
Debunks Misinfo retweeted
Misguided Allegations Against Qatar
Qatar's Engagement with Governments
First, Qatar does not fund or support nongovernmental groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood. Its relationships are institutional; it engages with governments, not political parties or movements. Qatar is willing to mediate between conflicting parties, but this should never be mistaken for endorsement
Debunking the Hamas Claim
The claim that Qatar is a patron of Hamas is equally unfounded. Qatar provides no financial support to Hamas. All Qatari assistance to Gaza is strictly humanitarian—covering food, medicine, fuel, and salaries for civil servants—and is coordinated with Israel and the United Nations. Even Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has confirmed that Qatari funding “didn’t go to the Hamas military system.” Successive Israeli governments from different political parties and coalitions have relied on Qatar to maintain stability and negotiate indirectly with Hamas. The group’s political office in Doha was established in coordination with the United States, and it has long served as a vital channel for communication and humanitarian coordination for Gaza’s two million civilians. This channel has been instrumental in securing the release of more than 160 hostages and in brokering multiple cease-fire agreements since the start of the war.
Qatar's Role in Regional Security
The United States Central Command’s forward headquarters operates from Al Udeid Air Base, the most important U.S. military installation outside the United States, which hosts more than 10,000 American personnel. Qatar also holds the status of Major Non-NATO Ally. Doha and Washington cooperate closely on peace and stabilization efforts not just in Gaza but also in Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ukraine, and elsewhere.
Addressing Propaganda Allegations
One consequence of Qatar’s role as a regional mediator and of its deepening partnership with the United States has been the launch of large-scale disinformation and lobbying campaigns by actors who are threatened by peace and stability in the region. Recently, several unfounded lawsuits filed in the United States against Qatar Charity were dismissed after the courts found the claims to be unsubstantiated and without merit.
Qatar's Commitment to Peace
Qatar’s focus is not on Israel. Its focus is on securing lasting peace and stability in our region. Over the past two years, Doha has engaged closely with Israeli officials to better understand their perspectives and propose solutions to end the conflict. It has worked directly with the families of hostages and played a central role in securing the return of all those held, including Israeli citizens.
Misunderstanding Qatar's Foreign Policy, A Strategic Partnership
Similarly, Qatar’s engagement with the United States is grounded in a long-standing and institutional strategic partnership, not in personal or transactional ties. This partnership has naturally evolved in areas of mutual benefit. American and Qatari officials consistently seek opportunities where their interests align—whether in security, defense, or economic cooperation. They continue to jointly advance the best outcomes for both countries.
Disinformation and Instability
Those promoting this disinformation thrive on chaos and instability. They fear the success of peacemakers because peace does not serve their interests. These bad actors are attempting to evade the consequences of their own reprehensible actions by diverting attention onto others.
Resilience of the U.S.-Qatari Partnership
Bad actors will not succeed in undermining the strength and continuity of the U.S.-Qatari partnership. Although this campaign has been underway for over two years, more people in the United States and around the world are beginning to see through its falsehoods. The credibility of this narrative is rapidly eroding.
Debunks Misinfo retweeted
@IsraeliPM speaking to half-empty room during his UN remarks says plenty about the support for this message.
Blaming Qatar for a political failures does not change the facts. Qatar’s reported funding of American universities has overwhelmingly supported the operation of U.S. university campuses in Education City, bringing American higher education to the Middle East. Those universities maintain academic responsibility for their programs; Qatar does not dictate what happens on their U.S. campuses.
You also know exactly why Hamas representatives have been based in Doha: Qatar has served as a communications channel and mediator in negotiations involving Israel, Hamas, the United States and Egypt. U.S. officials have repeatedly described Qatar’s mediation role as critical or indispensable.
At a moment of profound regional and domestic political turmoil, attacking one of the countries doing the difficult work of mediation does nothing to solve the problem.
Debunks Misinfo retweeted
An addition to the picture below.
- In an interview with Al Jazeera, Mohsen Rezaei says Tehran has already conveyed its conditions for ending the war to Washington and is now waiting for Trump’s response.
- He also says talks through Qatari and Pakistani mediators are continuing.
- On the nuclear front, Rezaei says Iran has not changed its doctrine and no decision has been taken to leave the NPT, but adds that US and Israeli actions could justify withdrawal in the future, depending on Washington’s behavior.
#Iran
A few days ago, a well informed Iranian analyst anticipated that a senior Pakistani official would soon travel to Tehran, reportedly carrying a new US message or proposal.
- According to his account, Washington is looking at a narrow 40-50 day window for a rapid but comprehensive agreement, one that, unlike the Islamabad understanding, would address both the Strait of Hormuz and the nuclear file. He linked the urgency to Trump’s desire for an agreement ahead of the elections, while suggesting Tehran would most likely reject such a package.
- Yesterday, Mehr reported that Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi could travel to Tehran this week.
- Today, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei effectively confirmed the upcoming visit, but pushed back against the mediation angle: he said Naqvi’s trip would concern bilateral Iran-Pakistan relations and that no specific message related to mediation was expected to be exchanged.
- So, the visit appears real. Whether there is more behind it remains an open question.
#Iran
Debunks Misinfo retweeted
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar joined his counterparts from Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Egypt at the R-4 ministerial meeting, reaffirming support for regional peace, prosperity and the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.
@MIshaqDar50
#IshaqDar #Palestine #RegionalPeace #Diplomacy #PakistanTV
Debunks Misinfo retweeted
This is coordinated propaganda and it’s disgusting.
Israel hired a PR firm to improve how they’re perceived in the U.S. and E.U.. Rather than respect borders and cease genocide in Gaza, and ethnic cleansing in the West Bank and southern Lebanon, they landed on getting us to fear and hate Muslims so much that we’d be okay with what they’re doing.
I mean, think about it. What is the point of Shapiro’s segment? What is he hoping we do or feel after watching it?
Link in thread if you want to read the details.
Ben Shapiro declares that Islam is "not compatible with the West."
Islam never went through a reformation "the way the Vatican II shaped Catholicism," or "centuries of rabbinic interpretation shaped Judaism," Shapiro says.
To solve this problem, we need to deport "communists and Nazis" and ban "mass migration" from "Muslim-majority countries," he adds.
In other words, our immigration policy must be shaped around what's best for Eretz Yisrael.
Debunks Misinfo retweeted
Yemeni Armed Forces spokesman: Airstrikes have destroyed Houthi military equipment, gatherings and fighters in the “kill box” in the Dhubab and Mocha areas of #Taiz Governorate.
#Yemen
Debunks Misinfo retweeted
New scenes released by Yemeni military strikes targeting Houthi fighters and military equipment in Dhubab of Taiz and Al-Khokh of Hudeidah.
#Yemen
Debunks Misinfo retweeted
New
Heavy airstrikes are hitting Houthis in the districts of Hays, Mokha and Dhubab, overlooking the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait.
#Yemen
New scenes released by Yemeni military strikes targeting Houthi fighters and military equipment in Dhubab of Taiz and Al-Khokh of Hudeidah.
#Yemen
Debunks Misinfo retweeted
Additional evidence. Houthi influencers are being paraded along the West Coast, yet once again their tours stop at Dhubab, not Bab al-Mandab. Singer @salmalmswdy9 is the latest example.
Two influencers did post from Bab al-Mandab, but the footage appears to be at least 48 hours old, not from September 13–14. Even Iranian TV is now promoting one of these two-day-old clips as if it were posted today. Axis of Resistance media is clearly making the most of the footage.
Speaking of the Axis, an Iraqi influencer is seen singing behind a green screen, chewing khat and pretending to be Yemeni in Bab Al-Mandab.
We should expect someone to eventually rush into what is currently a no-man’s-land for a quick social media clip. Meanwhile, pro-Iranian @pakhtunnews went a step further, using AI imagery to portray Houthi control, with comical results. The things people do for social media and fame.
With high confidence, Houthi forces are no longer able to exercise effective control over the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and have withdrawn most of their forces from the area. Government forces have not yet fully secured the territory, but sustained close air support has effectively denied the area to Houthi forces. At this time, Bab el-Mandeb and Mayun (Perimeter) Island, are assessed to be no longer under effective Houthi control. Further details to follow.
Debunks Misinfo retweeted
Voices from #Houthi-controlled North #Yemen
While militant Houthi loyalists celebrate military gains on the West Coast, other supporters are openly criticizing conditions at home, including the latest fuel price increases imposed by the Houthi-controlled Yemen Petroleum Company.
Ahmed Hajar, who has previously been detained by the Houthi Security and Intelligence Service #SIS, could not stay quiet. In a sarcastic video, he mocks how quickly petrol prices are rising. He says he had barely accepted a price of 9,500 riyals, about $18 at the current Sana’a exchange rate, before it jumped to 10,500 riyals, nearly $20. He jokes that if he waited until evening, it might reach 12,800 riyals, roughly $24.
Hajar says a Yemen Petroleum Company employee blamed the increase on higher global prices. He ridicules that explanation, joking about the poor quality of the fuel sold locally, how quickly it disappears from the tank and how badly cars react to it.
But behind the comedy is a serious complaint. Hajar argues that petrol stations should not immediately charge the new price for fuel already sitting in their tanks that was purchased at the previous, lower price.
While the Houthis celebrate their battlefield gains, double down on attacking the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, voices from inside areas under their control are reminding them that ordinary Yemenis still have to pay the bills.
Debunks Misinfo retweeted
The backlash over rising fuel prices in Houthi-controlled #Yemen appears to be getting harder to ignore.
The Houthi-controlled Yemen Petroleum Company has now disabled comments on its @Facebook page following a wave of negative reactions to its statement defending the latest price increase.
The company blamed higher costs on global oil market volatility, shipping, insurance and transportation expenses, while also pointing to sanctions and what it calls the Saudi “blockade.” It said Yemen remains dependent on imported fuel and that prices must therefore reflect international markets and actual import costs.
But one part of the statement is likely to fuel the criticism further. The company acknowledged that older fuel stocks purchased before global prices increased had helped keep local prices stable for the past six and a half months.
That feeds directly into the complaint being made by Ahmed Hajar and others. If stations are still selling fuel purchased at an earlier, lower cost, why should that existing stock immediately be repriced at the new higher rate?
For now, instead of answering those complaints publicly, the company’s @Facebook page has stopped accepting comments. facebook.com/share/p/14q224G…
Voices from #Houthi-controlled North #Yemen
While militant Houthi loyalists celebrate military gains on the West Coast, other supporters are openly criticizing conditions at home, including the latest fuel price increases imposed by the Houthi-controlled Yemen Petroleum Company.
Ahmed Hajar, who has previously been detained by the Houthi Security and Intelligence Service #SIS, could not stay quiet. In a sarcastic video, he mocks how quickly petrol prices are rising. He says he had barely accepted a price of 9,500 riyals, about $18 at the current Sana’a exchange rate, before it jumped to 10,500 riyals, nearly $20. He jokes that if he waited until evening, it might reach 12,800 riyals, roughly $24.
Hajar says a Yemen Petroleum Company employee blamed the increase on higher global prices. He ridicules that explanation, joking about the poor quality of the fuel sold locally, how quickly it disappears from the tank and how badly cars react to it.
But behind the comedy is a serious complaint. Hajar argues that petrol stations should not immediately charge the new price for fuel already sitting in their tanks that was purchased at the previous, lower price.
While the Houthis celebrate their battlefield gains, double down on attacking the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, voices from inside areas under their control are reminding them that ordinary Yemenis still have to pay the bills.
Debunks Misinfo retweeted
I wrote this a year ago after visiting Riyadh. "It's the economy, stupid"
I just reread the report, and much of it is relevant again today. If you want to understand why the Houthis are now going all in on attacks against Saudi Arabia, this may provide some useful context.
The timing also matters. This escalation comes amid a growing fuel crisis in Houthi-controlled northern #Yemen.
Reporting from Riyadh: The Houthis’ Search for a New Rallying Cause
By redirecting anger toward Saudi Arabia, the group seeks to secure salary funding, sustain public mobilization, and suppress growing domestic criticism.
Subscribe and share: bashareport.substack.com/p/r…
Debunks Misinfo retweeted
With high confidence, Houthi forces are no longer able to exercise effective control over the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and have withdrawn most of their forces from the area. Government forces have not yet fully secured the territory, but sustained close air support has effectively denied the area to Houthi forces. At this time, Bab el-Mandeb and Mayun (Perimeter) Island, are assessed to be no longer under effective Houthi control. Further details to follow.
Debunks Misinfo retweeted
“#Marib is within reach,” a Houthi fighter wrote on Facebook weeks ago. Yesterday, he was killed on the very front he claimed was close to victory.
#Yemen
Debunks Misinfo retweeted
This is the Israeli Defence Minister admitting, completely and brazenly, that the official policy of the Israeli state is ethnic cleansing in Gaza. But somehow we are expected to take seriously those who say it is not
BIG: Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz on Gaza:
There is no real solution for Gaza in the end without this migration. By the way, 80% want to migrate; it’s checked constantly in surveys.
Hamas doesn’t allow them, and there are no countries in the world that will take them.
We are fully prepared to move them out if it becomes possible—by sea, by air, by every way possible. Egypt is not willing, so it won’t be through them.
What’s delaying it is that the accepting countries want US support. Every country that is willing wants American backing. Currently, President Trump didn’t cancel this; he froze it. All the Arab countries came to him due to their pressure on this matter.
The moment will come. When will it come? When it becomes clear that Hamas is not meeting its commitment. Then we will get a green light to move forward militarily, territorially, and in other areas, and this thing will gain momentum.
Debunks Misinfo retweeted
No Makka Pact, but the coordination on ongoing negotiations in the Gulf between the different components continues
Close coordination continues with Pakistan FM Ishaq Dar. We held a constructive phone call to discuss means to contain regional escalation and stressed the importance of returning to the Islamabad MOU. @MIshaqDar50