On May 26, 2024, Interior Minister of Pakistan, Mohsin Naqvi demanded from Interim Afghan Government (IAG) of Taliban to stop the terrorism and militancy against Pakistan which is taking place from Afghan soil. He categorically demanded from IAG to take strict action against the banned terrorist organization, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), whose terrorists are hiding and operating from Afghan soil. He was referring about the series of terrorist attacks took place in Pakistan in last few months including the suicide attack on a vehicle, carrying Chinese nationals in Beshamarea of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Province.”We demand that the interim Taliban government arrest the TTP leaders, including its chief, Noor WaliMehsud and hand them over to Pakistan in order to maintain friendly relations between the two countries.” This is very unfortunate that, despite repeated requests from Pakistan, there is no satisfactory response from IAG since last over two years. Rather, the activities of TTP and other terrorist organizations have increased many-fold. Pakistan always wished to have good relations with Kabul; however, this cannot happen at the cost of terrorism inside Pakistan.
The terrorist attacks have stepped up against Pakistan by TTP while using latest weaponry and war munitions including the surveillance system. Moreover, they seem more determined and focus in their campaign to destabilize Pakistan. It is worth mentioning that, there has been a gradual rise of militancy in Pakistan after Taliban led Interim Afghan Government took over the control of Afghanistan in August 2021. The TTP terrorists moved to Afghanistan as a result of Military operations in KPK from 2009 to 2017. These elements were in the control of former Afghan Government under Ashraf Ghani and their militant activities were planned, directed and executed by Indian RAW and Afghan NDS. Nevertheless, with US and NATO presence in Afghanistan, there have been some restrictions on the activities of TTP. After August 2021, TTP stands more active and well organize in its terrorist attacks against Pakistan. Besides TTP, there have been elements of Daesh and some Baloch separatists, who have been using Afghan soil for militancy within Pakistan. In 2023, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFERL) revealed in a report that, after Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, TTP, Daesh and Baloch separatists gained control over the huge weapon and ammunition left by NATO and US forces. These militant organizations are using this modern weaponry against Pakistan in their acts of terrorism along Pak-Afghan border, in former FATA areas and in the province of Balochistan. Pakistan firmly believe that, if IAG take decisive steps to control TTP and other anti-Pakistan militant organizations, there will be no militancy in Pakistan. In 2023, the spokesman of IAG, ZabiullahMujahid issued a statement that, “the problem of the TTP belongs to Pakistan, not the Afghanistan.This was an ambiguous statement, contradicting the basic theme of the IAG. If TTP is an issue of Pakistan then, why Taliban led IAG is providing them hideouts and shelters on Afghan soil. They are operating against Pakistan from Afghan soil which is directly ruled by IAG under Taliban. Indeed, Afghanistan is fraternal brother and Pakistan has no intent to indulge in blame-game with IAG, yet the ground realities cannot be ignored. RFERL report that arms and ammunitions left behind in Afghanistan by the US being used by TTP rejects Kabul’s claims that TTP is not using Afghan soil against Pakistan. Indeed, all activities of TTP are still planned and executed while using Afghan soil. Presence of; TTP, Daesh (ISKP) and some Baloch separatist’s organizations on Afghan soil is a reality which IAG cannot deny. Moreover, they are abetted to undertake terrorism in Pakistan by elements within IAG.
Owing to constant terrorism from Afghan soil, security of Pakistan has seriously deterioratedin last two years. This is despite the fact that Pakistan welcomed the Taliban led IAG in 2021. Taliban did not face any resistance from any quarter within Afghanistan while they were taking over the war-torn state, two decades after expulsion of their regime. Even the former strong-hold of Northern Alliance ‘Mazâr-i-Sharîf’ fell to Taliban without any protracted fight. This indicates that grounds were prepared for Taliban by former invaders which made everything possible for them except overt financial support. Covertly the platform of UNHCR is being used by US for continued support of Afghan masses ever since August 2021.
In last two years, Taliban militia, guarding the Pak-Afghan border repeatedly disrupted the process of security fencing, undertaken by Pak Army. They even removed the fence from a number of places along Pak-Afghan border which cannot be considered as incident, rather these repeated acts were well-planned and Taliban regime as Taliban DefenceMinistry spokesman once issued a statement saying that, ‘Taliban forces stopped the Pakistani military from erecting an “illegal” border fence along the eastern province of Nangarhar’. Besides, there are repeated militant attacks from Afghan soil to Pakistani military posts and even civil population.
Attacking the mosques and killings the worshippers is an indication that, TTP is also anti-Islam besides being anti-Pakistan. The government of Pakistan must formulate a comprehensive response against the terrorism of TTP and its splinter groups. In order to safeguard against terrorist attacks of TTP and other terrorist organizations, the Government of Pakistan must chalk-out a comprehensive national response at three levels; a) launching of an awareness campaign among masses for their vigilance, b) strengthening the surveillance system to monitor the activities, routes, linkages and hide-outs of terrorists and c) Quick Response in combatingthe attacks of terrorists before they cause human or material losses.
The writer is Professor of Politics and IR at International Islamic University, Islamabad.
