Pak-Afghan ties on the edge

Pakistan's high-level delegation visit to Kabul aims to reset ties, amid rising terrorism and TTP tensions.

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On December 23, after a gap of 15 months, Pakistan dispatched a high-level delegation led by Ambassador Muhammad Sadiq, the country's special representative on Afghanistan, to Kabul. The visit was part of renewed push to reset troubled ties with Afghanistan.

Pakistan virtually severed contacts with Afghanistan in the last 12 months to put pressure on the interim Afghan government to crack down on the banned TTP and its affiliates. It even did not bother to appoint a special envoy for Afghanistan for several weeks after Ambassador Asif Durrani stepped down in September. But the government and decision-makers revisited their strategy and convinced Ambassador Sadiq to rejoin as Pakistan's Afghan troubleshooter. Sadiq is a veteran diplomat who previously served on the same position but had to leave the office after he developed differences with the previous establishment on the policy of holding direct talks with the TTP. His return to the office of special envoy was meant to give diplomacy a chance. Within days of his appointment, Sadiq managed to arrange a meeting between Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and the Afghan acting ambassador in Islamabad. He then travelled to Kabul, breaking a year-long impasse.

The visit was taking place at a time when terrorist attacks were on the rise. Just two days before his departure, terrorists ambushed a checkpost in South Waziristan, leaving 16 Pakistani soldiers martyred. The attack was claimed by the TTP. Sadiq had a simple brief - to press the Taliban leadership to change their approach towards the TTP. On the first day he held constructive meetings with the likes of Afghan interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani. The next day he met with Afghan Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and had other engagements. But on the night of December 24, allegation emerged from Afghanistan that Pakistan conducted air strikes in Bermal district of Paktika province. Taliban claimed that Pakistan bombed four different locations in the region, considered to be the stronghold of TTP and its affiliates. Pakistan has, however, only said an IBO was conducted against terrorists in "border areas". On their part though, Taliban condemned the strikes and even summoned a senior Pakistani diplomat in Kabul and recorded a strong protest. This all happened while Ambassador Sadiq was still in Kabul. Despite tensions, his next day engagements remained undisturbed as he held meetings with Taliban officials including Deputy Prime Minister for political affairs Maulwi Abdul Kabir.

Back in Islamabad, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif issued a strong statement, stating that Pakistan wished to have improved ties with Afghanistan but that was not possible when the neighbouring country was harbouring terrorist outfits. This dual policy was not acceptable, he emphasised, saying that the TTP's presence across the border was Pakistan's red line. The same day the chief military spokesperson addressed a news conference in which he reiterated Pakistan's stance that terrorist attacks were originating from Afghanistan. The DG ISPR said militant groups were being provided "sanctuaries, support, and are allowed unrestrained activities on Afghan territory".

"The Army Chief holds a clear and firm stance that Pakistan has concerns over the safe havens, facilitation, and unrestrained activities of proscribed organizations operating from Afghan soil," he added.

Relations with Afghanistan have become Pakistan's Achilles' heel. Pakistan celebrated the return of the Taliban to power in Afghanistan in August 2021, hoping that the change of government would help advance its interests. But developments happening afterwards have only exacerbated Pakistan's troubles. The data shared by the DG ISPR reveals that Pakistan, on an average, conducts 169 IBOs against terrorists per day. This year 925 terrorists were killed in those operations while 383 Pakistani security personnel embraced martyrdom. The numbers reflect a clear and present danger for Pakistan and put the relationship with Afghanistan on the edge.