Growing tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan revolve around the issue of cross-border terrorism, which intensified after the Taliban’s arrival on Kabul’s throne. Losses borne by Pakistan on account of terrorist attacks are unaffordable. The presence of anti-Pakistan terrorist outfits and numerous splinter groups in Afghanistan has become a threat to regional peace. Besides ignoring the genuine security concerns of Pakistan, the Taliban regime is continuously brushing off those authentic reports of international forums and regional players, which are pointing out the terrorist safe havens on Afghan soil. Firmness of the bond between the Taliban and the banned terrorist groups is evident from the undeterred support extended by the latter to master minds and facilitators of heinous terrorist attacks. This pro-terrorism strategy of the Taliban is not only hurting the neighbouring countries but also spoiling the stability prospects for Afghanistan. Undeniably, Pakistan has suffered the maximum damage due to the condemnable policies of the Afghan Taliban regime. The recent sharp decline in Pak-Afghan bilateral relations is the logical outcome of the non-cooperative stance adopted by the Taliban in absolute disregard of the terror-specific sufferings of the Pakistani masses. Pakistan did not make a decision to strike terror camps inside Afghanistan in haste. Pakistan made multi-prolonged efforts in the past to convince the Afghan Taliban to eliminate the terrorist groups involved in the killing of innocent civilians, including kids, women, elderly patients, personnel of security forces and LEAs. Negative response of Taliban to the valid demands of Pakistan was not a misunderstanding, but a deliberate strategy to safeguard the ideological allies (banned TTP). This blatant pro-terror reaction of the Afghan Taliban deeply disappointed Pakistan and shattered the hopes of counter terrorism cooperation.
Afghanistan, under the rule of the Taliban, has become a hub of terrorist organisations and a source of regional instability.
This seems a perfect betrayal once viewed in the context of decades-long hospitality and all sorts of humanitarian support extended to Afghan refugees by Islamabad. Over a period of time, Afghanistan, under the rule of the Taliban, has become a hub of terrorist organisations and a source of regional instability. Growing bilateral ties with India appeared as another strong indicator of the Taliban’s suspicious, hostile stance towards Pakistan. The source of surging terrorism in Pakistan can be easily traced back to the Kabul-Delhi nexus, which seems equally unnatural as well as anti-Pakistan in its entire make and type. Nothing could remain hidden on account of hostilities towards Pakistan after the visit of the Taliban interim Foreign Minister to India last year. Taliban forces and TTP terrorists jointly launched coordinated attacks on Pakistan border posts at a time when the India tour of Mullah Mutaqi was in progress. While TTP is targeting the KP areas adjacent to the border, Baloch separatist terrorists are expanding attacks across Balochistan to dent the writ of the state. Ironically, both banned terror outfits, TTP and BLA, are enjoying the shelter, training, financial aid and logistical support extended by the Taliban regime. Obviously, Pakistan was compelled to strike those Indian sponsored terrorist groups which were challenging the writ of the state by inflicting serious losses to the men and material. The interim Taliban government has now adopted a two-pronged mischievous strategy, i.e., blatant propaganda of civilian casualties and drone strikes inside Pakistan. This approach is neither good for the future of Afghanistan nor for the regional players. Pakistani forces are applying utmost professional precision in strikes, thereby leaving no room for collateral damage. Contrary to the false rhetoric of civilian casualties, the Taliban regime is actually targeting the civilians inside Pakistan with mortar shelling and drone strikes. Two drones shot down in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad in the past week were deliberately sent to civic areas. Thereafter, mortar shelling by Afghan forces led to the tragic martyrdom of four brothers in Bajaur district. Besides border hostilities, terrorist groups hiding under the shelter of the Taliban have been frequently targeting civilians. This undeniable bitter fact merits deliberation on why the Taliban are exporting terrorism, suicide bombers and drones to Pakistan. This terror trade is endangering the peace of the entire region under an unelected regime in Afghanistan, to which none of the UN member countries is ready to recognise as a legitimate government. In this context, for the sake of national security and regional stability, Pakistan has the right to take out the terrorists hiding on Afghan soil.
The writer is a freelance contributor based in Islamabad.