Pakistan and Afghanistan both can gain a lot from cooperation
The resumption of contacts between Pakistan and Afghanistan at the highest level is a matter of satisfaction. The ongoing operation in North Waziristan can succeed only if both armies cooperate with one another. Soon Pakistan’s troops would enter the North Waziristan in force. Both local and foreign militants will try to cross over to the Afghan side to escape the military dragnet. Subsequently they would pose security threat for both countries. However, coordination between the two armies can ensure the elimination of the threat.
The recent blitz of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) should be an eye-opener for the establishments of Pakistan and Afghanistan. The several militant networks operating on both sides of the Durand Line share the aspirations of organisations like Al-Qaeda and ISIS and have close links with them. Over the years the militants have learnt to use the differences between the states to gain space for themselves. The Haqqani Network, Maulvi Nazir group, Gul Bahadur’s Shura and Sajna keep assuring Islamabad that they would not launch attacks inside Pakistan if not restricted from conducting jihad in Afghanistan. Mullah Fazlullah and Omar Khorasani, on the other hand, make similar offers to Afghanistan if allowed sanctuaries to undertake jihad inside Pakistan. There is a likelihood of all these groups joining hands after the departure of foreign troops from Afghanistan in an effort to turn the area on both sides of the Durand Line into their fief.
Hopefully the two governments would avoid cherry picking by making fine distinctions like good Taliban and bad Taliban. To retain their integrity the two countries must not allow any private army to operate from their respective side for whatever aim. Pakistan has hopefully learnt the lesson and the ongoing operation would be indiscriminate. It is good to hear that President Karzai too is keen for security cooperation. For this he needs to order a similar operation against leaders of the TTP operating from the Afghan side.
