KARACHI:
It is unfortunate to be surrounded by a neighbour which continues to give us sleepless nights. Pakistan has long been bearing the brunt of terrorism perpetrated from Afghanistan. According to a recent UN report, about 20 terrorist outfits have taken refuge in Afghanistan, with latent support from the ruling Taliban, in violation of the Doha Agreement signed in 2021. The agreement conspicuously obligated the Afghan authorities not to support proscribed organisations. But the recent wave of terrorism in Kurram and Zhob areas of Pakistan shows how cross-border terrorism is ceaselessly spreading its tentacles far and wide.
Terrorism is a major reason for the financial woes of Afghanistan and the humanitarian plight of its people. It is an inescapable reality that tumultuous, turbulent and chaotic environment hampers internal growth resources and discourages FDI inflows. On the flip side, an environment guaranteeing political and economic stability can accrue fruitful economic dividends. If the Taliban leadership focuses on uprooting terrorism from its soil, it can earn trust of the business community to initiate projects that will bring economic dividends.
I believe that if the Afghan authorities follow the Doha Agreement, they will be able to bring peace on their soil which will, in turn, boost their economy in a very short span of time. Afghanistan’s geopolitical and geostrategic location is such that is connects with oil-rich Iran, minerals-rich Central Asian States and CPEC-linked Pakistan — indeed a boon for our war-ravaged neighbour if tapped properly. Projects like CPEC, CASA-1000, TAPI and Trans-Afghanistan Railway can turn Afghanistan into an economic hub if its leadership is able to control terrorism. China, Pakistan, Central Asian States and Iran are ever ready to extend their helping hand to Afghanistan if it pledges to align its activities with the mainstream world. It depends only on Afghanistan whether it terrorism over peace or vice versa.
Aamir Ali
Shikarpur
Published in The Express Tribune, July 19th, 2023.
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