Close cooperation
Followed by several deadly terrorist attacks during the last two months, the suicide bombing in Shabqadar should be enough to disabuse anyone of the notion that the terrorists’ backbone has been broken. Shabqadar borders Mohmand Agency where terrorist attacks have increased due to the Agency’s proximity to Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province sheltering the TTTP and its affiliates. In February this year, there were several IED attacks in Mohmand followed by raids by the TTP which caused numerous casualties among the security personnel as well as the terrorists. Finally, the government had to impose curfew in the Agency which continued for several days.
Last week Afghan ambassador in Islamabad told media that the TTP chief Mullah Fazlullah is hiding in a region where his government has no control over. After the withdrawal of the bulk of US and foreign troops from Afghanistan, Kabul is already finding it hard to deal with the offensive launched by the Afghan Taliban in Helmand and elsewhere. Under the conditions it would be too much to expect that the Afghan security forces would simultaneously take on the TTP terrorists also. The inability on the part of Kabul to assert its sovereignty over its border areas would therefore continue to hurt Pakistan. The hope to eliminate terrorism from Pakistan by the end of this year would remain a dream as long as Afghanistan is insecure and unstable.
What is required under the circumstances is close cooperation between the two countries. Pakistan needs to pressurise the Afghan Taliban to enter into talks with the Afghan government without delay. Taliban leaders who fail to cooperate should be handed over to Afghanistan. Meanwhile, Afghan troops and whatever ISAF forces are left should stand ready to eliminate terrorists escaping Pakistan’s military offensive in Shawal. With sufficient goodwill created on both sides as a result of these two actions, it should be possible to conduct jointly planned operations against the common enemy on both sides of the Pak-Afghan border thus ensuring peace and security in the region.
A very wishful and make believe editorial, far removed from ay actual bearing on reality. I wish things were so straight forward and so simple. Afghan security forces with Nato combined could not stop the terrorists crossing border in both directions, this failure was conveniently blamed on Pakistan.
Pakistan Army though much to their credit and valiant efforts have not been able to stop the flow of terrorists from Afghanistan. Pakistan conveniently blames this failure on Afghanistan.
Coming to the point of close cooperation between the two countries leading to combined and sincere efforts by way of intelligence sharing and military operations, it will amount to just slight improvement, there are too many other players in this game besides Pakistan and Afghanistan governments.
India's RAW, Mossad, renegade elements in Afghan intelligence and the northern alliance drug cartel warlords are just some of the powerful forces that want to maintain the status quo of terror in place. It is neither in Afghanistan's power nor in the domain of Pakistan to reign in on such elements standing in the way of anti-terror efforts.
Pakistan can make a big difference on is own by laying sophisticated mines and fencing of the border, this will make policing of the border much easier and much more effective. Israel has done it, India has done it, what is Pakistan waiting for?
None military operation of internal war on terror is the responsibility of Pakistan government, apart from useless words and empty slogans, neither the last government nor this government have shown much interest. They want Pakistan army to remain bogged down in operations for as long as possible.
Nice Post…
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