KARACHI:
Following the withdrawal of the US troops from Afghanistan, the Taliban has managed to take over key Afghan cities. Areas bordering Pakistan and Tajikistan have already been secured by them. The world now fears that human rights violations will surge drastically and a civil war might eventually ensue. There are also growing apprehensions about how the situation would affect Pakistan.
With new developments occurring every other day, as the Taliban attempts to increase its stronghold, the situation could rapidly escalate and create serious problems for Pakistan in the near future. The Taliban insurgency will force millions of Afghan civilians to flee their country and take refuge in neighbouring countries. Pakistan is already inundated with economic problems and financial debt; it will not be able to withstand another influx of refugees. This is why Pakistan must develop cordial relations with the Taliban at the earliest. The problem with this is that adversarial countries could twist the narrative and we may face international sanctions for “supporting” them. There is also a very real fear that radical groups in Pakistan might learn from the successes of the Taliban forces and resort to similar tactics.
In conclusion, Pakistan can face a disastrous situation both at the national and the international level. The government needs to take swift action to tackle the issue before it spirals out of control. All relevant institutions must work together and come up with a reasonable and practical solution to the issue.
Azfar Khan Niazi
Islamabad
Published in The Express Tribune, August 10th, 2021.
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