Last Updated:
Taliban sources said the act was intentional and symbolic, aligning with Kabul’s traditional rejection of the Durand Line, the boundary Afghanistan never formally recognised
Matiullah Turab, one of Afghanistan’s most revered and epic Pashto poets, passed away in July this year after suffering a heart attack. (Screenshot)
The Taliban, in a striking display of political messaging, placed a map of “Greater Afghanistan” on the grave of celebrated Pashto poet Matiullah Turab, turning his funeral into a platform for signalling long-standing territorial claims. The map prominently included large parts of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, marking them as historic Afghan lands—a move that directly challenges Pakistan’s sovereignty.
Top Taliban sources told CNN-News18 that the act was intentional and symbolic, aligning with Kabul’s traditional rejection of the Durand Line, the 1893 boundary that Afghanistan has never formally recognised. “The Greater Afghanistan map reflects our long-held stance that the Durand Line is an imposed border,” the sources said, adding that placing it on Turab’s grave was meant to convey that Afghanistan’s “historical boundaries are non-negotiable” and remain central to the Taliban’s ideological identity.
The display comes at a sensitive moment. The Taliban currently maintain full control of key crossings at Torkham and Spin Boldak, and the combination of on-ground authority with symbolic territorial claims points to a deliberate two-layered strategy. By asserting administrative control at the border, while simultaneously projecting broader territorial ambitions, the Taliban appear to be reinforcing their narrative that Afghanistan’s borders are “unfinished”.
Political experts say the episode underscores how even cultural or personal events are being used to advance political goals. Turab’s burial site, they note, was transformed into a stage for territorial messaging, further hardening the Taliban’s posture and signalling an escalation in Kabul’s rhetorical challenge to Islamabad.
Turab, one of Afghanistan’s most revered and epic Pashto poets, passed away in July this year after suffering a heart attack. According to Radio Television of Afghanistan, “Turab’s powerful verses, rooted in patriotism and resilience, earned him a timeless place in the hearts of the Afghan people”.
Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. December 04, 2025, 12:51 IST
Read More
Source link
[ad_3]
