Cooperation is key
With war weariness having become a dominant feeling in the US and Europe, Afghanistan faces an uncertain future. The Taliban control more of the country than at any time since the US invasion in 2001. What is more they are on the offensive. The situation worries on the one hand the US and its allies and on the other Pakistan.
President Obama, who wanted to end the longest US war in history during his tenure, has been forced to announce adjustments in his original troop plans; keeping 8,400 soldiers in the country when he steps down early next year. Meanwhile a high level Afghan delegation led by President Ghani is in Poland to attend the Nato summit in Warsaw. The Afghan government wants a comprehensive five-year financial and military assistance program to support its fight against terrorism.
The visit by the US bipartisan group of senators led by Senator John McCain was aimed at making an assessment of the operation in North Waziristan and of Pakistan’s efforts to contain terrorism. Another reason was to find how far Pakistan was willing to go against the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani network.
Adding to what Sartaj Aziz had called sequencing the operation, Gen Raheel Sharif explained that as consolidation goes on and operational dividends are optimised for Pak-Afghan border region, Pakistan will not allow anyone to use its soil against Afghanistan. He also assured the Afghan government that Pakistan will undertake all efforts to protect the integrity and sovereignty of Afghanistan but expects the same level of commitment from the neighbouring country.
Cooperation between Pakistan and Afghanistan is the key to peace in the region. What stands in the way are mutual suspicions which will not disappear with mere promises. Most Afghans believe that Pakistan is using its proxies to continue the civil war to have a government of its choice foisted on the Afghans. Pakistan thinks the Afghan government is helping India implement its hegemonic agenda in the region. Unless Pakistan takes action against Afghan Taliban and Haqqanis and the Afghans are careful about Pakistan’s sensitivities the suspicions will persist.