Positive signs in Pak-Afghan relations

Encouraging ISI-NDS contacts

Pakistan and Afghanistan have to put an end to hostility and improve ties in order to ensure internal security in both countries. After the cessation of quadrilateral talks the relations between the neighbours continued to deteriorate leading in June to the closure of the Torkham border and the ensuing bloody clash. There was a demand from important circles in Pakistan to immediately send back all the Afghan refugees. The prime minister acted wisely to extend their stay for six months.

The formation of the Quadrilateral Cooperation and Coordination Mechanism (QCCM) early this month by military leaders of Pakistan, China, Afghanistan and Tajikistan was a step towards re-engagement with Afghanistan. The four parties agreed that terrorism and extremism posed a serious threat to regional stability, and recognised the efforts made by the militaries of the four countries to fight terrorist and extremist forces.

There is now a need to remove the persisting tension between the ISI and NDS which is often at the root of the problems in relations between the two countries. As Sartaj Aziz has put it, incidents like the Quetta attack can be avoided when intelligence agencies of both countries are in contact. Hopefully Kabul will react positively to the suggestion for re-establishing contacts between ISI and NDS. It is high time the prime minister and his team finalise the new guidelines regarding Pak-Afghan relations prepared by FO.

The Ghani-led Afghan government is currently facing an existential crisis that is expected to peak as soon as next month. Afghanistan is supposed to hold parliamentary elections, enact sweeping electoral reforms, and amend the Constitution to create the position of prime minister for President Ashraf Ghani’s rival and current governing partner, Abdullah Abdullah. A war of words has already broken out between the two leaders. A section of Afghan politicians led by former President Karzai are adding fuel to the fire. Hopefully President Ghani will manage to ride out the storm. One expects him meanwhile to strengthen the QCCM and encourage ISI-NDS contacts.