Altaf Sario
Pakistan has played a vital role in protracted negotiations and signing of a formal peace agreement between the United States and Afghan Taliban on 29 February this year at Doha, Qatar. The reluctance of the Afghan government being a key stakeholder was visibly observed as many of state institutions and partners were sceptical about the specifics of peace arrangements. Therefore, when the ink was barely dry, a new wave of violence events erupted between rival forces to get a leverage during national dialogue. More ever, cabal led by anti-Taliban elements within government and outside got involved in derailing the peace process. Finding some opportunities after recovery from initial COVID-19 pressure, India being bogged down in face-off with China on western parts of LAC and urgency to meet tight time-lines set under peace agreements due to upcoming US presidential elections in November, Pakistan has recently unveiled a series of peace overtures. A few of them include a decision to set up border markets, re-opening more cross border trade routes and invitation to Dr Abdullah Abdullah to visit Pakistan. Although these steps in the context of Pak-Afghan context may not be new, their timings and sustainability carry considerable consequences.
Traditionally, 2430 km long Pak Afghan border infamously called as Durand Line had remained porous and preferred route for cross border smuggling of consumable items as well as automobiles, contraband and drugs. However, since the reinforced deployment of Pakistani armed forces to seal border post 9/11 US invasion and 2017 launched border fencing, illegal cross border movement has got the considerable blow. This may have resulted into improved security and reduced free movement of unwarranted and smuggled goods but has also adversely affected economic opportunities for divided communities and tribes on both sides of border. Lack of employment opportunities and earning sources have already been recognised as a few of the prime sources of militancy in the region. Furthermore, national commitment to reconstruct Afghanistan bordering seven merged districts (ex-FATA) by investing over one trillion rupees over the next 10 years has yet to kick off with intended impetus and time-line. Therefore, any decision to facilitate local trade will have positive socio-economic impact for the border divided tribes.
After multi-sectoral consensus and focusing traditional trade routes, Pakistan has announced initially five border markets to be established in the KP province located in four merged tribal districts and one in lower Chitral. The proposed crossings include one each in South Waziristan and North Waziristan, Shaheedano Dhand in Kurram district, Gursal in Mohmand District and Arundo in Lower Chitral as reported in some sections of media. These border markets will be established to facilitate local tribes and populace within the radius of 5 kilometres on both sides. Such markets being ‘Visa-free Zones’ are intended to curb unemployment and facilitate tribal connectivity amid border fencing and strict enforcement of Visa regime at formal border crossings. Therefore, only local tribes will be permitted to open their businesses as well as shops in these border markets.
With improved trade activity and operationalisation of Gwadar port for the Afghan transit trade under ATTA since last May, Pakistan has decided to reopen more than a dozen agreed on border crossings currently closed due to COVID-19 as precautionary measures. Initially, two points — Angor Adda in South Waziristan and Khalachi in Khurram districts — have been identified as more viable and feasible border openings in addition to already functional Torkham, Chaman and Ghulam Khan crossings. Angor Adda is one of the prime traditional and busier trade route connecting southern KP with central Ghazni province of Afghanistan. These new crossings are also expected to remain open for seven days a week for goods transport but initially during daylight hours. Apart from agreed security and customs checks, additional protocols for COVID-19 prevention will also be strictly enforced. Pakistan while re-opening these all crossings also envisages to extend border management system under proper ‘Visa and Passport Regime’ thereby phasing out existing identity card or rahdari (permit) crossing system.
The establishment of border markets and reopening of border crossings are vital steps for employability, tribal connectivity and economic cooperation. However, more important amongst latest peace moves is the invitation by the Pakistani Foreign Minister to Dr Abdullah Abdullah, Chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation to visit Pakistan. On this rare occurrence, Dr Abdullah has also responded positively to such gesture and nodded to pay an official visit to Pakistan at the earliest possible. Although, Dr. Abdullah has stayed and worked in Pakistan during Afghan Jihad against USSR invasion, however after Taliban takeover of Kabul in 1996, his viewpoint against Pakistan has been far from cordial. Further, he represents a strong non-Pashtun camp in Afghan power corridors, he is not a frequent visitor to Islamabad and has a future in Afghanistan state, therefore his visit won’t be a routine one.
Dr Abdullah is not holding any constitutional position in Ghani-led government but he heads the Afghan Council for peace with Taliban therefore mainly Afghan peace process would remain in focus during his visit. His visit is considered a very timely and important one, especially because of mutual efforts to steer Afghan peace and reconciliation process through the crucial phase of intra Afghan negotiations which remain susceptible to snags at every stage. However, Pakistan may also put emphasis on the repatriation of more than 3 million left over Afghan refugees as peace situation improve back at Afghanistan. This remains one of the prime motives behind Islamabad wholehearted efforts for a peaceful Afghanistan. However, it has not been prioritised by other stakeholders like US, Taliban and Afghan government during peace agreement and negotiations. Although the trade exchanges between two nations remain a recurrent arrangement, however their initiation amid COVID-19 which has negatively impacted both economies, will have positive outcome for both countries. They are also expected to provide some relief to bordering and divided tribes by the creation of employment and business opportunities. Similarly, the visit of Dr Abdullah is expected to clear some misconceptions towards mutual interests and commitments for the smooth progress of the Afghan peace and reconciliation process.
—The writer studied Conflict, Security and Development at the University of Sussex (UK). He writes on conflicts, SDGs, governance and social issues.
