That’s what mars Pakistan-Afghanistan relations
Unless there is peace in Afghanistan, there is little hope of stability in Pakistan the lack of which is responsible to a consideration extent for a slowdown in economy. It suits the TTP which is responsible for killing thousands of civilians and security personnel to keep the pot boiling in Afghanistan as it provides it an opportunity to crisscross the Durand Line at will. A suicide attack killing nearly 30 in Hangu and another deadly attack on a military camp killing 24 in just a week indicate that the terrorists continue to be on the offensive. A report tells of different terrorist groups gravitating to Tirah Valley in Khyber Agency from where they can employ the synergy thus acquired to target the NATO supplies and spread havoc in Peshawar and beyond. Different Taliban factions have reportedly set up safe havens in Khost across the other side of the border which are supposedly safe from drone attacks. Meanwhile, Mullah Fazlullah who has taken shelter in Kunnur in Afghanistan continues to target Pakistani troops across the border and civilians in Swat. The TTP has thus acquired strategic depth in Afghanistan which it is keen to retain. It is in Pakistan’s vital interests to ensure a stable government in Kabul sharing with it the desire to cleanse the region of terrorism. Unless the goal is pursued most earnestly, both the countries stand to lose.
While the British PM David Cameron was upbeat about the level of cooperation ‘agreed’ between Afghanistan and Pakistan, what remains uncertain is whether the two sides would be able to implement the agreements on time. Mutual suspicions still lurk in the minds of the establishments on both sides. Pakistan is wary of Afghanistan’s strategic agreement with New Delhi. It also sees the hand of Afghanistan behind the insurgency in Balochistan and accuses it of sheltering leaders like Fazlullah. Afghanistan on the other hand is unhappy about the way terrorists have used sanctuaries in Waziristan to launch strikes inside Afghanistan. While Pakistan has already released a number of Taliban leaders, Kabul wants others including Mullah Baradar to be both released and persuaded to hold peace talks with the Karazai government.
The lack of trust between the establishments has permeated to the lower echelons of bureaucracy as blocking of each other’s transit goods amply illustrates. The peace deal worked out during the tripartite summit at Chequers needs to be pursued efficiently. Measures have to be taken to remove the causes responsible for the prevailing mistrust before the allied forces leave the neighbouring country at the end of 2014. A delay could harm both countries.