Terror nexus

Kabul's smear campaign against Islamabad blaming it for hosting 'terror nexus' has fallen flat. The high-profile arrest of Islamic State-Khorasan Province's propaganda architect, Sultan Aziz Azzam, in an operation near the porous border has widely disrupted the group's influence and activities over the past several months. He was nabbed sometime in May this year, helping lay bare Taliban's blame-game.

Such a claim, nonetheless, was also shunted out by the United Nations, which categorically stated in its 16th report of Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team that Pakistan's operations have weakened IS-KP's organisational structure at the global level. This is where the reclusive dispensation is in need of putting its house in order and looking inward to flush out non-state actors holed up on its soil.

The world body is on record saying that "...a wide range of member states consistently report that ISIL-K, TTP, Al Qaeda, the Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement, Jamaat Ansarullah, Ittihadul Mujahideen Pakistan, and others are present in Afghanistan". The UN remarks are an indictment of the Taliban regime warranting some strong action to exterminate the radicals who are a nuisance to the entire region.

Pakistan, being a victim of terrorism, has played its role by going after the unscrupulous elements, and beefing up its intelligence gathering and sharing with regional partners. The arrest of Azzam and senior ISIS-K leader Abu Yasir Al-Turki are a case in point. The two operatives were instrumental in planning and preparing for external attacks, besides running major ISIS-K propaganda platforms, including Voice of Khorasan.

It's high time the world community gave a shut-up call to Afghan spokespersons who live behind smokescreens, and continue to malign Pakistan. Kabul has a responsibility to fulfil and that is to constitute an inclusive government and act against terror groups. Working closely with Pakistan on a broader counterterrorism initiative should be the way to go.