New challenges for Pakistan

Practical measures need to be taken

While Ch Nisar is yet not certain whether the stranger killed in the Dalbandin drone attack was really Mullah Mansour, the more pragmatic  Afghan Taliban have announced their former chief’s death. What is more, their supreme council has met – according to the western media, in Baluchistan – and elected Maulvi Haibatullah as the new leader.

The foremost challenge for Pakistan now is the new US policy of taking out wanted Taliban leaders wherever they are found.  It won’t be enough to protest against the violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty as both the PM and COAS have done.  What is also needed is to ensure that Afghan Taliban are not allowed to use Pakistan’s territory as a sanctuary or a meeting place  or a departure-cum-arrival lounge for traveling  to and from other countries.

Sections of western media have hinted at the US having already informed Pakistan of the impending action against Mullah Mansour. This could cause suspicions among some of the Taliban leaders who could then react in a hostile way leading to a situation where Pakistan has to fight not only the TTP but also the Afghan Taliban.

Mullah Haibatullah, the former Taliban chief justice and head of Ulema council is the man who provided theological sanction to Taliban’s fight against the Afghan government and issued edicts to justify terrorist attacks. Few hope that Mullah Haibutullah would turn into a peacenik after his elevation. Sirajuddin Haqqani who has been elected as one of Haibatullah’s deputies has gained notoriety for planning and executing deadly attacks inside Kabul. Over the last one year Haqqani has extended his influence in the Taliban organisation, getting several shadow provincial governors of his choice nominated. The new Taliban chief and Haqqani could thus jointly turn the Taliban into a bigger problem for the world than before. The day the new Taliban leadership was announced, ten employees of an Afghan court were killed in the outskirts of Kabul when their van was targeted. Coming events it seems are casting their shadows before.