Daily Times

Ever since the Pakistan Army operations, Zarb-e-Azb and Radd-ul-Fasaad, have gained successes and resultantly the terrorists hiding in North Waziristan and elsewhere have fled to Afghanistan, the TTP has changed its strategy to target Pakistani forces from across the border. A number of incidents have taken place so far, which caused damage to not only the fence erected by Pakistan but also loss to human lives including members of the security forces. This is why Pakistani forces are on maximum alert and giving a timely response to the terrorists entering the country to conduct their terrorist activities. Extremists frequently use their bases, sanctuaries and safe havens provided by local warlords in Afghanistan as a springboard for launching attacks in Pakistan. Pakistan has time and again lodged protests with Kabul, but President Ashraf Ghani’s administration has failed to take meaningful action.

Despite having erected a fence and increased the number of guards patrolling it, some terrorists still manage to sneak into Pakistan. On October 2, the vigilant Pakistan Army repulsed a fresh cross-border attack in North Waziristan, killing at least seven terrorists and injuring three others. Last month, in September, at least nine terrorists were killed in an intelligence-driven operation in North Waziristan, which also resulted in the martyrdom of seven servicemen, including an officer.

On June 2, 2018, Pakistan’s security forces killed six terrorists who launched raids and physical attacks from the Afghan side of the border to disrupt border-fencing work in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. The cross border raids were carried out by terrorists in Bajaur Agency and Balochistan’s Qamar Din Qarez. In Bajaur, there were at least 7 attempted attacks from across the border. Pakistan is in the process of building a fence along the 2600km long porous border with Afghanistan, in order to consolidate the gains of successful kinetic operations.

On June 14, 2018, the terrorists attacked the security forces in Shawwal, North Waziristan; the exchange of fire resulted in the martyrdom of three army soldiers, while five terrorists met a similar fate. In fact, the terrorists from across the Pakistan-Afghanistan border attempted multiple physical and fire raids on the Pakistan Army posts along the border in Shawal. Those martyred included Havaldar Iftikhar, a resident of Sargodha, Sepoy Aftab from Chitral and Sepoy Usman, a resident of Gujrat.

A similar incident occurred on April 7, 2016, when at least a dozen militants were killed, while six others were apprehended, as security officials repulsed a cross-border attack on a security check-post in the Kurram Agency. According to political authorities and Frontier Constabulary in Parachinar, Kurram Agency’s headquarters, between 50 and 60 unidentified militants from across the border attacked a security check-post in Mangora Sar area in Lower Kurram Agency, but the troops posted at the check-post were alert and retaliated. In the ensuing exchange of fire, security forces managed to kill at least 12 militants and injured six others. No security official was reported to have been injured in the attack. Officials added that the retaliation from security forces caused the remaining militants to retreat towards Afghanistan. The injured militants were taken into custody by the troops. A large cache of arms and ammunition left behind by fleeing terrorists was also confiscated. The security forces immediately took control of the area after the attack and tightened security measures.

On April 7, 2016, between 50 to 60 unidentified militants from across the border attacked a security check-post in Mangora Sar area in Lower Kurram Agency, but the troops posted at the check-post were alert and retaliated. In the ensuing exchange of fire, security forces managed to kill at least 12 militants and injured six others

Militants from across the border launch attacks on check-posts in Kurram Agency from time to time. In February, 15 militants were killed when security forces repulsed a similar cross-border attack on a check-post in Shabuk. At least one security official was injured in that attack. On August 11, 2012, nine militants were killed and several others were injured as security forces repulsed a cross-border assault on a check post in the Bin Shahi area of Barawal Valley. Two security personnel were also killed when they stepped on land mines during the battle, an official said. Dozens of terrorists from Afghanistan sneaked into Pakistani territory around 2:00 pm and attacked the check-post, in which two personnel identified as Jamil and Mumtaz were killed when they stepped on a mine while fighting the attackers. One security official, identified as Mudassir, was injured. The exchange of fire continued till 6:00 pm in which nine militants were killed and 13 injured. The attackers took the bodies of their fallen comrades and injured with them back to Afghanistan. The same week, Pakistan security forces repulsed a similar attack on a security check post in the area, killing two militants. In June, 17 security personnel were killed when dozens of militants from Afghanistan stormed security check posts in the Sunai Darra and Gulunu Sar areas of Barawal.

These attacks clearly indicate that one, the Afghan government has failed to stop such incidents, despite having NATO and ESAF assistance, border management and sophisticated surveillance and monitoring gadgets installed on their own side of the border. Two, despite assurances on part of Kabul government, there have been no progress in the talks meant to sort out issues including border security through dialogue.

High powered delegations, either led by Afghan National Security Advisor or other high ranking officials, and their talks as part of the new mechanism recently agreed between the two countries, have failed to lead to a halt in these cross-border attacks. Three, the absence of the Afghan government’s writ in its border regions, like in many other areas of the country, facilitates terrorists in carrying out such attacks. Four, Kabul is reluctant to dismantle these sanctuaries despite repeated requests from Islamabad. Instead it blames Pakistan for sheltering the Afghan Taliban.

Pakistan and Afghanistan have already reached an agreement to operationalise Afghanistan-Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity (APAPPS), which provides a framework to strengthen mutual trust and deepen interaction in all spheres of bilateral engagements. It is also a mechanism for finding solutions to bilateral areas of concern. It is advisable that both the countries must follow APAPPS in letter and spirit so that the gains achieved against the common enemy may be consolidated and peace brought back to the region. Any attempt to disrupt such efforts will further prolong the ongoing chaos, and diminish the hope of peace and tranquillity in the region.

The author is a freelance columnist based in Islamabad

Published in Daily Times, October 5^th 2018.