Message to Kabul

Pakistan has come up with a categorical stance on Afghanistan. For the first time, Islamabad has spelt out its terms of interaction with Kabul, and that at the international fora. This is very unbecoming of Pakistan’s traditional policy perspective, and that too for its western neighbour, which it had taken care of in all thick and thin. The point that has pushed Pakistan, perhaps, to the wall is the threat to its very existence as it continues to face onslaught from non-state actors holed up in the war-torn country, and the inability of Taliban dispensation to take them out. The point blank submission of the Permanent Representative at the United Nations Security Council was that all future engagement with Afghanistan would depend on action against the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan.

This is a major policy shift, and has come at a time when the bilateral relations are at its lowest ebb. The decision to expel illegal Afghans from Pakistan, and to stringently monitor the borders, has led to a lot of bad blood, and the Taliban authorities are frowned upon. This new utterance has made it clear that recognition of the regime by Pakistan, or any other country in the region, is simply not forthcoming, and it entails the militia to ‘do more’, and put their house in order. The prescription is in conformity with what the international community had been demanding for long: form an inclusive government, guarantee rights to women and minorities, and cleanse the Augean Stable of terror remnants.

Pakistan has played it well at the UNSC by not only cornering Kabul for its adamant attitude on counterterrorism, but by also singling out another eastern neighbour for its alleged maneuvering in the region. It is widely suspected that recent terror fissures in Pakistan had a foreign hand, and India cannot be absolved of the blame. This is why the envoy told the world body that it has credible evidence to substantiate its claim, and the comity of nations too must pile in their pressure. Time for Kabul to act responsibly and desist from a knee-jerk reaction.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 23^rd, 2023.

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