Amrullah Saleh: Afghanistan Is Not Talibanistan, Nor Pashtunistan

ADN

Amrullah Saleh, Afghanistan’s former vice president and one of the staunchest opponents of the Taliban, has spoken out from exile in a rare interview that sheds light on his evolving view of the forces shaping Afghanistan. 

Saleh, long known for his fierce criticism of Pakistan, avoided naming Islamabad in this interview. Instead, he focused his sharp analysis on China, cautioning against its growing role in the region and warning that Taliban rule cannot endure without outside support.

Conducted on 22 September 2025, the interview was shared with Afghan Diaspora Network by Saleh’s Afghanistan Green Trend movement. It offers a revealing window into the thinking of a man who has spent decades resisting the Taliban, from his days in the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance in the 1990s, through his tenure as intelligence chief and later vice president, to his declaration as caretaker president after the fall of Kabul in August 2021.

Taliban as “Assets” of Foreign Powers

Saleh rejected the narrative that the Taliban won a military victory in 2021. Instead, he argued that the group’s return to power was the result of international arrangements sealed in the Doha Agreement with the United States. 

“The US and NATO weren’t defeated. They just turned the Taliban into their assets,” he added. According to him, the Taliban now rely heavily on foreign stipends channeled through humanitarian aid, with millions of dollars arriving weekly and often diverted to Taliban-controlled networks.

Saleh contrasted the Taliban of the 1990s with today’s rulers, describing the current leadership as political instruments rather than an independent movement. 

“They are implementing the Doha Agreement item by item to serve the geopolitical interest of the US in the region,” he observed.

He further claimed that the Taliban selectively police certain extremist groups in order to maintain a measure of international legitimacy, particularly in relation to al-Qaeda. But he warned that many other radical factions continue to operate under Taliban protection. These include the Islamic State Khorasan Province, the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, and Uyghur militants. 

“They have no commitment to fight other groups other than al-Qaeda,” Saleh added, portraying the Taliban as manipulators who use terrorist networks as bargaining chips in foreign policy.

China in Focus

The most striking element of Saleh’s remarks was his emphasis on China rather than Pakistan. He recalled that during the 1990s, Afghan resistance factions had managed to maintain limited engagement with Beijing, but he criticized China’s current approach as risk-averse and extractive.

He cited the Mes Aynak copper mine project, promised by Chinese companies but left largely undeveloped, as a symbol of unfulfilled commitments. 

“China is not a risk-taking country. They are too cautious. Thus, I think we must not have an inflated view of their influence,” Saleh said.

While acknowledging the presence of Chinese intelligence operatives in Kabul and northern provinces, Saleh argued that Beijing’s role remains limited compared to the financial clout of Western donors. He also dismissed comparisons reportedly made by some Chinese officials between Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada and Mao Zedong. 

“Hibatullah isn’t Mao. He is more of Pol Pot,” he declared, underlining his belief that the Taliban’s rule is defined by repression and destruction rather than transformative leadership.

Saleh cautioned China and other regional actors against investing political capital in the Taliban regime. 

“It will be best for countries to stay away from investing in an anti-people group who are paranoid to get legitimacy of any sort from the people,” he said, adding that Afghanistan’s destiny cannot be dictated by external powers or by one faction.

Fragile Future

Turning to the future of Afghanistan, Saleh was unequivocal: the Taliban’s rule cannot last. 

“They have no popular mandate and are too afraid to get the people engaged,” he said. He argued that without foreign stipends, the Taliban’s system would collapse under its own weight.

He pointed to the mass exodus of Afghans since August 2021 as evidence of widespread disillusionment. Millions have left the country, he said, to escape what he described as “racist and repressive policies” that suffocate Afghanistan’s pluralistic character. This erosion of diversity, he warned, risks irreparable damage to the social fabric.

Saleh insisted that Afghanistan must not be reduced to narrow labels. 

“Afghanistan is not Talibanistan nor Pashtunistan,” he said, underscoring the country’s multi-ethnic identity and resilience. For Saleh, the Taliban’s current dominance is temporary and cannot erase centuries of shared history among Afghanistan’s many communities. 

“The Taliban’s current status won’t last. There is no way,” he concluded.

A Warning to the World

For Saleh, the international community faces a choice. Supporting or accommodating the Taliban may serve short-term tactical purposes, but he warned that this strategy will ultimately fuel instability. He urged regional powers, especially China, to recognize that the Taliban cannot provide durable governance and that investing in them will backfire.

His comments also reflect the shifting dynamics of exile politics. By downplaying Pakistan—a country he has long accused of backing the Taliban—and instead highlighting China, Saleh is signaling where he believes the real geopolitical contest over Afghanistan is now unfolding.

From exile, Amrullah Saleh continues to voice defiance and a vision for Afghanistan beyond Taliban rule. His message is both a call to Afghans not to lose hope and a warning to the world: no external deal or regional power can permanently dictate Afghanistan’s future.