Daily Times

An unnerving increase in attacks claimed by Islamic State in the region must serve as a wake-up call to authorities in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

A local affiliate of the terrorist outfit has now taken responsibility for the murder of an officer of the Pakistan Consulate in Jalalabad. Rana Nayyar Iqbal was shot on Monday evening and he died before he could be taken to the hospital.

The Afghan authorities must ensure a quick inquiry into the matter. Security measures for the Consulate staff must be reviewed so that the loopholes can be plugged.

In the long-run, however, both countries need to deliberate on a joint strategy to fight the menace of religious militancy.

The presence of IS in the region reflects on the unstable security situation on both sides of the Pak-Afghan border. It also points to the need for greater coordination and intelligence sharing efforts between the two countries to counter the threat posed by militant groups. This is a joint struggle that both states need to wage against groups that have been harming efforts for restoration of peace and stability.

The recent attack will have repercussions in relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan which have already been tense. While Afghanistan has often pointed fingers at Pakistan for condoning the presence of militants, the recent attack is illustrative that the problem exists on both sides of the international border. Just last month, an Afghan deputy governor was abducted in Peshawar. Last year, a former Afghan governor, Sayed Fazlullah Wahidi, was abducted and successfully released.

While the other two incidents have not been claimed by IS, this killing of Pakistani official in Jalalabad should be a wake-up call for Pakistan and Afghanistan to work jointly to fight the surge of IS in the region.  *

Published in Daily Times, November 10^th 2017.