Thankfully, a thaw

See-saw Pak-Afghan relations witness some upturn in London conclave

The meeting between Sartaj Aziz and Afghan NSA Haneef Atmar, hosted in London by British National Security Adviser Mark Lyall-Grant, generated some unlikely but welcome positive vibes after the downward escalation in bilateral relations in recent weeks. Perhaps, fleeing the emotional regional cauldron and seeing the grim larger picture from afar, did the trick in breaking the ice, under the prodding of the former British Ambassador to Pakistan, a wise  old hand no doubt well versed in the complex mechanics of the original Great Game.

A spirit of optimism and conciliatory tone are reflected in the talks, but the cynics will recall how often such hopes and attempts to diffuse mutual tensions foundered after a horrific suicide bombing or a deadly terrorist attack, to be followed by the usual mutual recriminations and conditioned- reflex responses. The Pakistan High Commission termed the talks ‘productive and held in a cordial atmosphere’, and a Pakistani participant remarked they were ‘forward looking’ and the progress would continue. The Foreign Office spokesman in Islamabad also caught the upbeat mood and called the present border closure a temporary measure, stressing a sanctuary-conditional need for trade and interaction of people. The Afghan  negotiating side called the meeting ‘good and constructive’, the Afghan Ambassador to Pakistan also changed his unsympathetic tune, and hoped that the talks would help in ‘genuine bilateral cooperation’, ‘constructive state to state relations’, ‘joint mechanism to fight terrorism’ and ‘improve mutual trust’.

No doubt, opening the border for valid visa holders is essential to win the hearts and minds of the common people and facilitate commerce, but the Afghan government must also ensure that cross- border attacks are not launched from their side. Yesterday alone, there were two, in Khyber Agency, which claimed eight lives, including two soldiers, and a foiled suicide attempt in KP province. On March 7, audacious cross-terrorist attacks on three Pakistani posts had also claimed the lives of five soldiers, leading to retribution. It is imperative to bar sanctuaries, knowing well that behind any regional instability lurks ISIS.