Daily Times

Sir: On June 15, three army soldiers were martyred, and five militants killed, in attacks from across the Pak-Afghan border which targeted military posts in the North Waziristan district.

According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), terrorists from across the Pak-Afghan border attempted multiple physical, and fire raids, on Pakistan Army posts in Shawal. The five militants that died only did so after the Pakistani army opened fire in retaliation to their attacks. It is important to note that these militant attacks came only three days after Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa’s visit to Kabul, during which he held a one-on-one meeting with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and engaged in discussions on issues of bilateral interest.

While the investigation in to the attacks continues, it is important to remember the evidence pointing at India, and its role in sponsoring such acts of terrorism in Pakistan by using proxy located on Afghan soil. Afghanistan is being treated as a chessboard, sandwiched between two powerful opposing forces that are using it to play a dangerous game with each other. India has been further exploiting the situation, in order to promote their strategic ambitions in the region, and have been using nefarious methods to do so. They are also using their many proxies to develop a feeling of mistrust between Pakistan and Afghanistan and it is now up to their governments to see through this duplicity, and continue their efforts for peace.

ANZA KANWAL

Rawalpindi

Published in Daily Times, June 22^nd 2018.