Malik M Ashraf
WHILE the success of intra-Afghan dialogue is billed as pivotal to peace returning to war-ravaged Afghanistan it is also imperative to build bonhomie between Pakistan and Afghan government. These two developments are absolutely essential in regards to regional connectivity which links Pakistan to Afghanistan and Central Asia for enhanced economic trade, cooperation and shared prosperity. US special representative for Reconciliation in Afghanistan reportedly while testifying before the House committee on Oversight and Reform Sub Committee on National Security was right on money in saying that one benefit of peace in Afghanistan is connectivity and trade and economic development. He said that Trump Administration was vying to lay out a formal agreement between Pakistan and Afghanistan to curb cross-border terrorism, restrict movement and making sure that the respective territories were not used as safe havens by militant outfits. He said “The Pakistani leaders have been helpful for the effort that I have been making to encourage a political settlement. By the time negotiations with the Taliban are over, the bilateral agreement between Pakistan and Afghanistan could also be achieved.”
It is an irrefutable reality that Pakistan has been making relentless efforts at the bilateral and multilateral levels to promote Afghan-led and Afghan-owned reconciliation in Afghanistan and has played a crucial role in firming up an agreement between the US and Taliban as well as assisting in making the intra-Afghan dialogue possible. But regrettably the Afghan Government has always looked askance at Pakistan’s efforts in this regard. It is pertinent to mention that immediately after the conclusion of the peace agreement between US and Taliban and cropping up of a stalemate on the issue of swapping of prisoners agreed in the Peace Plan, Afghan President had asked the Taliban when would they sever links with Pakistan? The reality is that the efforts made by Pakistan in this regard stem from her unflinching belief that it was in her own interest to promote peace in Afghanistan to pave the way for return of Afghan refugees and opening up new vistas for shared regional prosperity which was only possible through her links with Afghanistan and Central Asia countries.
Another regrettable reality is that while Pakistan was making sincere efforts for peace in Afghanistan, the Afghan territory was being used by terrorist entities for attacks against Pakistan with the help and connivance of RAW and Afghan intelligence DNS. The APS tragedy and attack on PAF base in Peshawar are a ranting testimony of this fact. In spite of several interactions between leaders of the two countries as well as security top brass the frequency of such attacks experienced no decline. Pakistan took a unilateral decision to fence the entire border and set up watch posts to prevent cross-border movement of the militants in 2017. Even now attacks on Pakistan security posts are continuing from across the Afghan territory. Pakistan apart from facilitating the conclusion of peace agreement between US and Taliban and nudging intra-Afghan dialogue has also taken several strides to give a softer touch to the troubled relations with Afghanistan by opening its border to facilitate Afghan trade and by setting up small markets along the border with Afghanistan.
One can hardly deny the desirability of a formal agreement between the two countries facilitated and guaranteed by the US. Rapprochement between Pakistan and Afghan government besides the success of intra-Afghan dialogue is pivotal to permanent peace in the region. The role which Pakistan has played in facilitating the peace agreement and intra-Afghan dialogue is duly acknowledged by the US. It has been an auspicious development in regards to arresting nose-dives in their relations that followed the announcement of new policy on Afghanistan and South Asia by the Trump administration and incessant accusations of duplicitous role played by Pakistan and cutting off aid to her. This contribution by Pakistan at a time when the US presidential election is around the corner has increased the chances of smooth withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan. The US would surely like to continue her engagement with Pakistan. However, the future trajectory of relations between US and Pakistan is inextricably linked to how things pan out and the positive outcome of Afghan intra-dialogue. Though the process is quite arduous but given the political will on both sides and their commitment to the cause of peace can untie the knots. The new bonhomie between Pakistan and the US can also open other avenues of mutual benefit to both the countries.
It is indeed a historic opportunity that has come the way of the Afghan stakeholders in peace and they need to show maturity and vision to make sure that the dialogue between them remains on track and reaches an amicable settlement in regards to political set up in Afghanistan. The US, Pakistan and regional powers are looking up to them to show flexibility and spirit of accommodation and are willing to help in the reconstruction of the destroyed infrastructure in Afghanistan and rebuilding the war-ravaged economy provided they succeed in finding ways and means to end the conflict. Their failure will have dreadful consequences and might push the country into an unending instability. The Afghan leaders must realise that the people of Afghanistan deserve peace and prosperous existence. They cannot afford to miss this opportunity. The future of Afghanistan therefore hinges on the ability of the Taliban leadership and the decision makers in the Afghan government to sink their differences and evolving a consensual political arrangement for the future.
— The writer is freelance columnist based in Islamabad.