Taliban lay ‘Greater Afghanistan’ map on poet’s grave claiming Pakistani land: Could it trigger a new border flashpoint?

(FILES) A Taliban security personnel stands guard along a road near the Ghulam Khan zero-point border crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan in Gurbuz district in the southeast of Khost province on October 20, 2025. (Photo by AFP)

The funeral of renowned Pashto poet Matiullah Turab in Afghanistan has turned into a political message aimed directly at Pakistan. During his burial, the Taliban placed a map of “Greater Afghanistan” on his grave. The map included large parts of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan as Afghan territory. By doing so, the Taliban turned a cultural moment into a declaration of territorial ambitions, openly challenging Pakistan’s claim over these regions.

Sources within the Taliban leadership confirmed to CNN-News18 that this was not a spontaneous tribute. They said it was a calculated move linked to the Taliban’s long-standing position on the Durand Line. According to them, “The Greater Afghanistan map reflects our long-held stance that the Durand Line is an imposed border.” The sources added that the display showed that Afghanistan’s “historical boundaries are non-negotiable” and remain part of the Taliban’s political identity.

The Durand Line divides Afghanistan and Pakistan and was created in 1893 during British rule. Afghanistan has never formally accepted it. Pakistan, however, treats it as an international border and uses it to justify its control over Pashtun-majority areas. The Taliban’s message suggests that they continue to reject Pakistan’s authority over these regions, despite being dependent on Islamabad for years during their insurgency.

The timing of the gesture also raises concerns for Pakistan. The Taliban already control the key border gateways at Torkham and Spin Boldak. Their control over movement of goods, migrants, and trade has increased pressure on Pakistan’s economy and internal security. Placing the map on Turab’s grave therefore sends a two-sided message. The Taliban are not only enforcing their power at the border through force, they are also using symbolic gestures to project a broader claim that Afghanistan’s boundaries are incomplete.

Analysts say this shows how the Taliban are using even personal and cultural spaces for political messaging. Turab’s grave has now become a location that carries a nationalistic claim against Pakistan. His poetry, known for themes of resistance and patriotism, is being used to emphasise a historical narrative that undermines Pakistan’s sovereignty.

Turab, who died of a heart attack in July, was regarded as a beloved Pashto poet. Radio Television of Afghanistan noted, “Turab’s powerful verses, rooted in patriotism and resilience, earned him a timeless place in the hearts of the Afghan people.” His death has now been turned into a symbolic moment that questions Pakistan’s territorial legitimacy in the eyes of the Taliban.