New Delhi/Kabul, May 24, 2025 – In a stunning twist, the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan has emerged as India’s only supporter in its four-day conflict with Pakistan, framed by New Delhi as a “war on terror” following the April 22, 2025, attack in Pulwama, Indian-administered Kashmir, which killed 26 people. While India accuses Pakistan of sponsoring the attack, attributed to the Kashmir Resistance Front, major global powers, including the United States, United Kingdom, and China, have expressed skepticism, suspecting India’s own involvement in orchestrating the Pulwama incident to justify military escalation. Adding fuel to the controversy, former CIA operative Sara Adams has claimed that India is funding the Taliban to carry out targeted killings against Pakistan-backed militants.The conflict, which has seen India launch airstrikes on alleged militant camps in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and suspend the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, has escalated tensions along the Line of Control (LoC). Pakistan denies any role in the Pulwama attack, which killed 25 Indian tourists and one Nepalese national in a shooting and has called for an international investigation. India has rejected the proposal, insisting on its right to retaliate against “Pakistan-sponsored terrorism.”In a rare move, the Taliban issued a statement on April 28 condemning the Pulwama attack and expressing solidarity with India. Taliban spokesperson Abdul Qahar Balkhi stated, “The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan stands with India against terrorism and condemns the loss of innocent lives in Jammu and Kashmir.” On May 23, India sent a convoy of trucks carrying food, medical supplies, and construction materials to Afghanistan, a move analysts see as an attempt to cement ties with the Taliban amid deteriorating relations between Kabul and Islamabad over border disputes and refugee expulsions.However, India’s narrative has found no other takers. The United States, United Kingdom, and European Union have called for de-escalation but stopped short of endorsing India’s claims, with diplomatic sources citing “inconsistencies” in evidence linking Pakistan to the attack. China and Russia have urged restraint, while Iran offered mediation but expressed doubts about India’s account. Posts on X reflect this skepticism, with one user stating, “India’s Pulwama story doesn’t add up—too convenient for Modi’s war rhetoric,” though such sentiments remain unverified.The controversy deepened with revelations from Sara Adams, a former CIA officer, who claimed in a May 22 interview with a European outlet that India has been funneling funds to the Taliban to conduct assassinations of Pakistan-linked militants, particularly those tied to Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed. Adams alleged that India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) has provided “millions in covert payments” to the Taliban since 2023 to destabilize Pakistan’s border regions. While these claims lack independent verification, they have intensified global scrutiny of India’s actions.India’s Ministry of External Affairs dismissed Adams’ allegations as “baseless and malicious,” accusing her of spreading disinformation to undermine India’s counterterrorism efforts. Meanwhile, the Taliban’s support has raised eyebrows, given its historical ties to Pakistan. Analysts suggest India’s aid trucks and diplomatic overtures, including a meeting between Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and Indian Joint Secretary M. Anand Prakash in Kabul, are strategic moves to exploit the Taliban’s rift with Pakistan.As the conflict enters its fourth day, a shaky ceasefire brokered on May 10 is faltering, with both India and Pakistan reporting violations. Tens of thousands are displaced along the LoC, and fears of a broader conflict loom.India’s reliance on the Taliban as its sole ally, coupled with Adams’ explosive claims and global suspicions of its role in Pulwama, has left New Delhi diplomatically isolated, raising questions about the true motives behind its “war .”Reporting by Reuters, with inputs from Srinagar, Islamabad, and Kabul.