Pak-Afghan relations, that is
The rupture that occurred in the well-orchestrated bonhomie between Pakistan and Afghanistan in the wake of revelations about the death of Mullah Omar, the consequent power struggle within the Taliban movement and resurgence in Taliban attacks in Afghanistan for which the Afghan government blamed Pakistan, now seem back on track. The process of mending fences started with trilateral meeting involving British Prime Minister David Cameron, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Premier Minister Nawaz Sharif and later one-on-one meeting between Afghan President and Prime Minister of Pakistan. During that interaction the two leaders agreed to work together to bring the Taliban back on the negotiating table. The ‘Heart of Asia’ Conference in Islamabad in early December and the declaration adopted at the end of it, which more or less conformed to Pakistani view of resolving the Afghan conundrum and eliminating terrorism, imparted further impetus to the process.
The gains of the foregoing developments have been further consolidated with the visit of the COAS General Raheel Sharif and his meetings with the Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah. The two sides agreed on carrying forward dialogue with Taliban; convening of a four-nation conference in mid-January to work out clear and comprehensive road map; reiterated not to allow use of their respective soil against each other and sternly handle elements crossing over and getting involved in acts of violence and terrorism through active intelligence sharing and intelligence based operations and decided to establish hotline between the DGMOs of both the countries and increasing the frequency of military to military visits for better coordination. The revival of the prospects of dialogue with Taliban is indeed a very positive development considering that the Afghan President and Chief Executive have been severely criticising Pakistan and even at one stage spurned further Pakistani involvement in facilitating dialogue with Taliban.
Similar agreements were also worked out between the two sides in the wake of terrorists attack on APS. However in the current understanding reached between the sides, one very significant element has been added to the domain of realm of mutual cooperation. While they have agreed to pursue peace and reconciliation with Taliban groups willing to join the process, it has also been decided to deal with those elements who continue to pursue violence, under a mutually worked-out frame work. It is for the first time that Pakistan has expressed its willingness to even fight against Taliban elements opposed to the process of reconciliation. That surely reinforces the credentials of Pakistan as a sincere broker of the peace process in Afghanistan and should prove to be a credible element in constructing an ambience of mutual trust.
In my articles on Pak-Afghan relations I have always maintained that this estrangement was temporary. Pakistan and Afghanistan were indispensable for each other in fighting the common threat of violent extremism and terrorism and this factor could act as a catalyst in putting their relations back on the same wavelength; a reality which is now acknowledged worldwide and the reason why they are urging Pakistan to nudge the process of reconciliation in Afghanistan.
Peace in Afghanistan and Afghan-led and Afghan-owned process in Afghanistan has always remained a top priority of the present civilian and military leadership in Pakistan who are very much conscious of the fact that peace in Afghanistan was an indispensable variable in the fight against terrorism, particularly the success of operation Zarb-e-Azb. Peace in Afghanistan means peace in Pakistan. Pakistan cannot be expected to work against its own interests by fomenting acts of terrorism in Afghanistan as often has been alleged by the Afghan leadership. The task of re-engaging the Taliban in the process of parleys is not going to be easy due to the conflict within the ranks of the Taliban movement but given the commitment and resolve that Pakistan has shown in addressing this convoluted problem and with unqualified support of the Afghan government and other stakeholders forthcoming, the task would not be impossible.
It is hoped that the re-established bonhomie between the two countries would not only help in ending the bitterness of the past but would also pave the way for renewed collective efforts to fight the common challenges. Needless to emphasise that both sides need to work together with sincerity of purpose, showing sensitivity to mutual concerns and making a new beginning. An immediate re-evaluation of the current relationship is essential in order to move forward. It must be understood that as the US troops gear up to withdraw, Afghanistan would need Pakistan more than ever. President Ghani is struggling to maintain his unity government intact and the withdrawal of US and NATO troops might precipitate his woes as the Afghan army was still not in a position to maintain security. The battles in Kunduz and Badakhshan and the latest clashes in Helmand, are indeed very dangerous portents which have exposed the vulnerabilities of the new political dispensation in Afghanistan.
Increased attacks by Taliban on government installations, their offensive to capture Afghan cities as well as the presence of IS in Afghanistan in the shape of Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan are real threats to the Afghan government. There is a strong likelihood that Afghanistan might drift towards an unending conflict and struggle for ascendency among different power players after the departure of US-NATO troops. To prevent this horrible scenario from re-emerging, Ghani’s government has no alternative but to join hands with Pakistan in forestalling the impending disaster. Similarly, Pakistan also is in desperate need of Afghan cooperation in taking the war on terror to its logical conclusion, implementing its economic initiatives including CPEC and achieving its strategic objective in the region.
Pakistan and Afghanistan cannot change the geographical and historical realities. Their destinies are interwoven with each other. The challenges that they are faced with will keep haunting them indefinitely if they do not overcome the mutual distrust and the undercurrents that are undermining the chances of the two countries to form a common front against terrorism and reconciliation in Afghanistan. It is an inevitable choice. It would surely need neutralising the machinations of RAW through mutual cooperation.
The Afghan leadership needs to realise that it has a historic opportunity to end strife in Afghanistan with the help of the regional countries including Pakistan and China as well as the world community who are more than willing and committed to see Afghanistan returning to peace and stability. They should not fritter away this chance through their unimaginative and misguided approach to the whole issue. They are better advised to exhibit firm determination in tackling internal weaknesses rather than trying to externalise them.
