Media persons and analysts claim the TTP will turn their guns on Afghanistan if a peace deal prevails between the TTP and the new Pakistani government. PHOTO: FILE
Afghan President Hamid Karzai was among the many world leaders who congratulated Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif hours after his party emerged as the largest political force in the general elections.
The president’s office said Karzai called for cooperation between the two countries “in fighting terrorism and extremism as they pose serious threats to peace and stability.”
A day later, Afghanistan’s top diplomat in Islamabad, Omer Daudzai, reiterated Karzai’s position that cooperation is essential for establishing peace in Afghanistan and the region. Other Afghan leaders, who had recently been critical of Islamabad over the alleged construction of military posts on the Afghan side of the border, are hopeful as the new elected government in Pakistan gets ready to take over.
Afghan media and analysts, however, remain skeptical and claim violence in their country will escalate if the new Pakistani government reconciles with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). They hold the banned militant outfit responsible for most of the terrorist attacks in the country.
Sarnawesht, a privately owned newspaper, claimed in an article: “Nawaz Sharif promised cooperation with President Hamid Karzai, but time will prove that just like the previous governments, the new civilian government will not have any effective role in Pakistan’s policies towards Afghanistan.”
The paper further alleged in an editorial on May 13 that Pakistan’s civilian government plays no major role in formulating the country’s Afghan policies and “is to a great extent, unauthorised.”
Media persons and analysts claim the TTP will turn their guns on Afghanistan if a peace deal prevails between the TTP and the new Pakistani government at a time when international forces are preparing to withdraw from the war-torn country.
The Afghan media is also wary of Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) as it seeks to form the provincial government in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P). Imran’s approach towards the Taliban concerns them, they say.
As Pakistan voted, Afghan TV channels endlessly debated the election outcome and the possible impact on Afghanistan if Sharif comes to power. A majority of the Afghan analysts do not expect any major changes in Pakistan’s Afghan policy because “the real power would still rest with the Pakistan army and its security agencies, as has historically been the case.”
Wahid Mozhda, a political analyst and former Afghan foreign ministry official, claimed Afghanistan will suffer if the TTP declares peace with the new Pakistani government.
“If we see peace with the Taliban in Pakistan, the Taliban will indeed need another battlefield. Therefore, a decline in the level of violence in Pakistan would mean an intensification of war in Afghanistan and support for Taliban in Afghanistan will also increase,” Mozhda told The Express Tribune.
Afghan daily Hasht-e Sobh welcomed the continuation of the democratic process and the peaceful transfer of power in Pakistan. “Nawaz Sharif is a veteran politician and he must have realized the policy of supporting extremism is the main cause of the current insecurity in Pakistan. Nawaz Sharif must try to tell the powerful military and intelligence services the continuation of the current policy does not benefit Pakistan and democracy in that country,” the paper said in an article on May 13.
Arman-e-Mili, a daily close to the Journalists Association of Afghanistan, was highly critical of Sharif’s victory on May 11. Kabul-based daily Cheragh expressed similar concerns in an editorial this week. “Nawaz Sharif’s foreign policy stance is regarded as a serious alarm bell for Nato, the US and Afghanistan. It is necessary for our country’s politicians to look at the changes in Pakistan expertly and professionally,” read the editorial.
Some Afghans are optimistic about Sharif’s victory and see him as an experienced hand in foreign policy. “It is time for Nawaz Sharif to re-shape Pakistan’s foreign policy. Pakistan needs to take bold and determined steps to convince the Americans for peace in the region,” said Movement for Peaceful Transformation of Afghanistan Chairman Farouq Azam.
During Sharif’s first tenure as prime minister, he helped broker the ‘Islamabad Accord’ on March 7, 1993. The accord was a peace and power-sharing agreement between major Afghan warring parties, aimed at ending the civil war in the country.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 18th, 2013.
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In such circumstances, foreign policy,already going on go more without change. sharif would be either unwilling or unable to challenge it .
American want, newly elected government in Pakistan support united state as has been doing Zadari's government,but the newly expected government looks disagreed on it .
It mean, the change in country's financial condition as claimed by N,league before the public is not expected to come because American ecnomic assistance would be conditional and pakistan this time not in condition to do more for it
Vide Karzai movement that is specific evidence of American approach,in case Pakistan support Taliban then united states may become aggressive for it.some observers are predicting of tough time ahead.Allah the Almighty bless my country and the people.
United States,on the request of Pakistan would ask IMF to release loan to Pakistan. N league would bring change to Pakistan,hahahahahahah
After the glorious success In the may 11 election, the figures inside the party,having longstanding experience in regard to the foreign policy disclosed to a media persons that the in coming government would reconsider all the agreements signed with the United States including the repatriation of American troops stationed in Kabal more than a dacade possibly advers the consequency of this absuredly thoughtless statement was however contained by the prime minister
Reality is that TTP has never been involved in any terrorist activity in Afghanistan. Their focus is Pakistan. Even Americans admitted that TTP was not targeting their troops. Infact TTP have claimed to have bases in Afghanistan. Afghan media is as usual spreading falsehood.
Afghans dont need to lecture Pakistan, it is Pakistan which is a victim of Afghan fighting between themselves.
If anyone has a right be angry or worried, it is Pakistan, because once the US forces leave, Afghans are incapable or unwilling to defend their country, they have a habit of constantly pointing fingers at everyone but themselves for their own problems and actions.
I would advise Nawaz Sharif to not get involved with any Taliban Afghanistan peace deal, they will not listen and Pakistan will only be blamed for the doomed results.
The best policy for Pakistan is to stay as far away from Afghan politics as possible, close down the border, and have very strict movement only for those whose travel is neccessary for business, education, or visiting a sick relative, the rest should be closed to traffic.
Also mine the border and fence it wherever possible, it will not stop but slow down movement. All roads leading from Afghanistan should be manned and checked for proper travel documents, corrupt officials taking bribes should be shamed in front of media, their names exposed and then put in jail.
The cities and villages of Pakistan need to be cleansed of Afghan refugees and other unauthorized and ilegally residing people. Only citizens of Pakistan have a right to live and work here, all others should be moved to camps near the border if they refuse to go back to their homeland, just as is done in Iran and a dozen other nations including the US, Australia, France, Italy and many others. Why is Pakistan acting like a hotel for every wayfarer, illegal crosser, and refugee, we have our own burdens to handle, enough is enough.
Very thoughtful analysis well-written article. Writer hit right on nail’s head. The problem is past track record and behaviour. How can one blame neighbours? Pakistani leadership has to prove to world that they have changed. US have poured in lots of Dollars with no results. Pakistan is bottom less pit. Spending money on building nuclear bomb is no solution. Hope for best.