Hammer and anvil tactic?
The military has gone active again in the border regions of the Khyber Agency – “to reinforce troop deployment in Rajgal Valley” (ISPR) – just around the time Afghan and nato forces are trying to tighten the noose around the developing IS threat in Nangarhar and Kunar regions. This could, of course, be a regular beefing up of security forces along the difficult border as the war moves from one stage to another. It could also additionally mean that security forces on both sides of the border, at least in the Khyber region, have developed an understanding.
Just days ago IS’s commander in Afghanistan was taken out in a US drone strike, along with 30 or so of his associates. Since the Afghans, and foreign security forces, have little more than air power in the region, they will not be able to follow the bombs with on ground action. That is why they will most likely count on the IS militants – most of whom they say have come from the Pakistani Taliban – to slide back across the border. And there, on the “high mountains and all-weather passes” of Khyber, the Pakistani military will complete the hammer and anvil tactic.
Publically both governments tend to downplay the IS threat in the region. The Afghans say it is just limited to a few districts in their country, that too because of the Pakistani border influence. And Pakistan – especially the interior minister – says there is no such thing as IS here. It’s just a Middle Eastern phenomenon. But upon closer reflection it seems the more serious players on both sides, at least as far as the conduct of the war is concerned, are only too aware of the threat and are taking timely, coordinated action. Even if this is a case of unintended, though beneficial, consequences, there is enough in this example for Kabul and Islamabad to realise that only through coordination can they both win their wars.
