History shows us many such incidents when the writ of our country was challenged by such external forces
KARACHI: As the boundaries between traditional and non-traditional security threats started to blur overtime, violence in war-torn countries such as Afghanistan exacerbated. Even during the Covid-19 crisis, the situation is so volatile that militant organisation may take this opportunity to attack vulnerable countries. The situation may allow them to further extend their clout as regional and global focus turns towards dealing with a pandemic that has drastically impacted the social, political and economic dynamisms of the world.
When the US-Taliban peace deal was signed, many believed that Afghanistan would finally witness an era of peace. However, the recent attack at the maternity home in Kabul, deemed as a war crime by the Human Rights Watch, made it apparent that as long as terrorist networks remain intact nothing can be predicted with confidence. With the intra-Afghan dialogue in the doldrums, the resultant chaos can have a spillover impact in Pakistan.
History shows us many such incidents when the writ of our country was challenged by such external forces. In such a situation, Pakistan, a country that has always advocated for peace in Afghanistan, should keep its narrative strong because it is vital for the national interest. Our country is already battling problems on multiple fronts ranging from economic and social turmoil to political stability, therefore we cannot afford to take on another country’s burden. Afghanistan, on the other hand, should focus on dialogue and reconciliation which will not only lessen security intimidations but also provide a conductive environment for internal development.
Hadia Mukhtar
Published in The Express Tribune, May 20th, 2020.
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