Kabul yatra

Pakistan and Afghanistan had a tête à tête over evolving a new security paradigm. A high-powered delegation from Pakistan on its maiden visit to Kabul, since the Taliban took over in August 2021, made use of the opportunity to make the Afghan leadership realise that the latter has not kept its promise to hold on the rogue horses on their soil. The increase in terrorism incidents in Pakistan clearly has a footprint of non-state actors that are at impunity in the landlocked neighbouring state, and are apparently free to operate from there. The fact that Islamabad came up with tangible proofs to make a point, and the Afghan Taliban leadership was receptive to it, is a major breakthrough. This was direly needed as the lack of formal communication between the two countries, and the tendency of speaking through the media, had created a messy situation.

The communique of agenda, however, differed among both the sides. Pakistan insisted that only one-point was on the table i.e. to discuss the surge in terrorism, and track down the presence of TTP sanctuaries on Afghan soil. Whereas, Kabul said a plethora of other issues came under discussion. Whatever the case, the good point is that formal deliberations took place and the respective debriefing will enable both the sides to mend fences, and to proactively reassert a counterterrorism strategy. Kabul was reportedly told that humanitarian assistance and facilitation of Afghans at border crossing points is taking place, despite severe constraints and a sense of lawlessness. The interim government should appreciate this gesture, and seriously act against elements that are not only sabotaging peace inside Pakistan, but are also resulting in once again isolating the new Afghan dispensation on the international front.

A new bilateral framework of cooperation is the need of the hour. Both the states must spell out an agenda to collectively act against terrorism, and go ahead to formalise the international border, curb human and drug-trafficking, and pave the way for instant connectivity in trade and commerce. This is the minimum needed to get going.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 25^th, 2023.

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