Daily Times

The decision of putting Pakistan in the international terror funding watch list of supporting terror groups at the recently concluded Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in Paris is a major blow for Pakistan. However, what came as a surprise to the political pundits was China, its strong ally and benefactor, did not oppose the US move, especially when it has invested billions of dollars in belt and road and CPEC projects. One of the reasons for the Chinese neutrality could be its own concern of losing its own nationals in terror attacks. The Trump administration has also raised Pakistan’s role in destabilising Afghanistan.

President Ashraf Ghani, after being elected as the president of Afghanistan, reached out to Pakistan in an effort to improve the bilateral ties. He also went to the extent of cancelling the defence orders placed with India in an effort to assuage the feelings of Pakistan.

It must be said that India, which continues to be one of the strong allays of Afghanistan, where it has invested millions of dollars in development of infrastructural projects, was peeved with Ghani’s decision. Ghani, probably realised without the support of Pakistan, which continues to wield considerable influence over the Taliban, he would not succeed in bringing the Taliban to the negotiating table. Sadly, his peace initiative was met with lukewarm response from Pakistan.

Amidst, the prevailing political chaos in his country, where over 30,000 civilians have died due to terror attacks by the Taliban and its affiliates after the United States decided to withdraw most of his troops in 2001, after unseating the Taliban government, the successive governments have failed to bring an end to the terror attacks. In 2017 alone, over 10,000 civilians have been killed due to terror attacks. The Afghan security forces have been inept in handling the suicide attacks, in spite of being armed and trained by the United States. However, what is disconcerting is that the Taliban, today, occupies nearly 50 per cent of the territory.

The President of Afghanistan is facing an intense attack, not only from his political opponents, but also from some of the members of his own cabinet, for his inability to stop the rampant corruption, which has severely impacted the public delivery systems, and also his failure to stop the growing terrorist attacks on civilians and military targets. His critics feel that he lacks political experience to manage a complex country like Afghanistan, which has always been a victim of internecine war between various tribal groups.

Ghani, who had earlier served in the World Bank with distinction, was brought back by Hamid Karzai to be the country’s finance minister. But, sadly, Ghani has been found inept in handling the prevailing political uncertainty in his country.

There are several factors that had led to his failure. One of the main reasons is the lack of support from his onetime mentor Hamid Karzai, who continues to wield power among the Pashtuns, the most dominant community and, also from his deputy Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, who nurses his own ambitions of becoming the President. In fact, the presidential elections held in 2014 led to a stalemate between Abdullah and Ghani. It was left to the US to broker a power sharing deal between Ghani, by making him the president, and Abdullah, as country’s chief executive.

One must concede that in spite of all his failings, Ghani is an honest politician, and certainly a man of peace. Ghani recently again renewed his offer to Pakistan, and in a significant departure of calling the Taliban as a terrorist organisation, he has now offered to recognise the Taliban as a legitimate political group, as there is a growing realisation in Afghanistan that only a political solution, and not military, is the qua non for ushering peace in the region. Sadly, the Taliban, which has earlier agreed to talk directly to the United States, has not reacted to Ghani’s proposal.

There is no gainsaying that it is Pakistan, and Pakistan alone, that has the ability to nudge the Taliban towards the negotiating table. Ultimately, it will be Pakistan that will benefit most if peace is restored to the region. Who knows, this could even pave the way for better ties with India?

It is here that Pakistan can play a positive role by leveraging their influence over Taliban and its affiliates and persuade them to accept Ghani’s proposal. This is a daunting task, as Taliban not wants to establish an Islamic republic in Afghanistan but wants to run it based on Sharia law. But Pakistan has the ability to persuade the Taliban to talk with Afghan government and find ways to find a mutually acceptable solution to both the parties. Pakistan can also play an important role by bringing China, Russia and the United States to a common platform for finding an acceptable solution to end the conflict. Recently, the United States, a onetime strong ally of Pakistan, has accused Pakistan for its double standards for giving critical intelligence inputs to it and, at the same time, continuing to support the Taliban.

Pakistan is facing an existential crisis today with its inability to reign in various terror groups operating from Afghanistan. Pakistan should realise that continued instability in Afghanistan is not in its own interests, as it has also been a victim of terror. By not reigning in on the Taliban, it has forced the Afghanistan government to look the way of the activities of Tehreek-i-Taliban (TTP) which is operating from its soil. TTP has carried out several attacks in Pakistan, including the infamous attack in 2014 in an Army School in Peshawar, where over 130 students were brutally killed. In February 2017, the armed insurgents belonging to this group attacked a Sufi shrine and killed over 80 persons who had assembled to offer prayers.

It is a historic opportunity for Pakistan to support President Ashraf Ghani’s comprehensive peace plan, as it will not only pave the way of political stability in Afghanistan, but the groups acting against its own interests will no longer receive the support from its neighbour. It is a win-win situation for both. China is also exerting its influence over Pakistan to restore peace and stability in Afghanistan as it would present an opportunity to extend its belt and road project there.

Moreover, if Pakistan can decisively act on the terror groups operating from its soil, which will receive not only international acclaim, but the US, and other countries, would also help Pakistan in rebuilding the economy.

There is no gainsaying that it is Pakistan, and Pakistan alone, that has the ability to nudge Taliban to come to the negotiating table. Ultimately, it will be Pakistan that will be the biggest gainer if peace is restored in the region. Who knows, this could even pave the way for better ties with India?.

The writer is an independent columnist and political commentator

Published in Daily Times, March 10^th 2018.