Militancy in Pakistan: Role of Interim Afghan Govt?
THERE has been a gradual rise of militancy in Pakistan after Taliban led Interim Afghan Government (IAG) took over the control of Afghanistan in August 2021. The key militant organization carrying out militancy in Pakistan is Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). As per estimates, more than 6000 TTP militants are stationed in Afghanistan in various hideouts ever since military operations carried out against them in militancy hit areas of KP and former FATA. 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 stepped up its activities against Pakistan from across the Pak-Afghan border. This is happening despite Taliban Government claims that, Afghan soil will not allowed to be used by any militant organization against any neighboring state. Besides TTP, there have been elements of Daesh and some Baloch separatists, who have been using Afghan soil for militancy within Pakistan. Recently, 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 has repeatedly asked IAG for stoppage of militant attacks from Afghan soil. In fact, 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.
Lately, the spokesman of IAG, Zabiullah Mujahid issued a statement that, “the problem of the TTP belongs to Pakistan, not the Afghans. If they (TTP) try to use Afghan soil, we will not allow. This is an ambiguous statement, contradicting the basic theme of the IAG. No doubt, TTP is an issue of Pakistan, why successive Afghan governments including Taliban led IAG have been providing them with hide-outs and shelter on Afghan soil. They are still operating against Pakistan from Afghan soil despite very tight control of Taliban IAG all over Afghanistan. Without consent of IAG, there is no chance that, TTP or any other anti-Pakistan militant group can operates against Pakistan from Afghan soil. 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 ZabiullahMujahid cannot deny. Moreover, they are allowed to undertake terrorism in Pakistan and come back to Afghanistan which cannot be possible with any abettor. Among entire region, Pakistan is the only country whose security situation has deteriorated after take-over of Afghanistan by Taliban in August 2021. This is despite the fact that, Taliban take-over of Afghanistan was made possible because of hectic Pakistani efforts. It was Pakistan which brokered the negotiations between Taliban and United States on the request of former US President Donald Trump. The process of pull-out and take-over was quite peaceful.
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.
This means that, Taliban Regime has full backing of the Washington, despite it is not yet recognized by any state. This also means that US is still in the process of securing its strategic objectives within and in the neighborhood of Afghanistan while using Taliban as a covert tool. Owing to its traditional intimacy, religious affinity and social underpinnings, Pakistan is the only country which is still maintaining a closer link with Taliban regime in Afghanistan. The attitude of the Taliban regime has been mostly non- cooperative, conceited and dictating towards the state and the Government of Pakistan.
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 Defence Ministry spokesman Enayatullah Khwarazmi 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. Indeed, Afghan soil is more frequently used by militants and terrorists of TTP who attack Pakistani military and killed over 300 soldiers and officers since Taliban takeover Kabul in 2021.
The surge in the militancy in bordering areas of Pakistan all along western borders is a very serious development. The IAG must take serious actions against TTP and all those terrorists, hiding in Afghanistan and using its soil for militancy against Pakistan. On its part, Pakistan has been reiterating the Taliban led IAG for establishing its writ in the country and stoppage of militant activities of all militant organizations from Afghan soil.
— The writer is Professor of Politics and IR at International Islamic University, Islamabad.
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