Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar recently conducted a press conference, during which he made serious allegations against the Afghan interim government led by the Taliban. He accused them of providing support and aiding operatives from Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in carrying out terrorist attacks within Pakistan. Kakar asserted that there has been a noticeable surge in terrorism incidents in Pakistan since the Afghan interim government assumed power in 2021. He connected this increase to the ongoing deportation efforts targeting illegal immigrants, framing them as part of broader counter-terrorism measures.
In August 2021, the swift and surprising takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban was met with widespread celebration across various sectors of Pakistani society. This remarkable turn of events culminated in the fall of Kabul, as Afghan government forces, previously trained and equipped by the United States and its allies, seemed to dissolve into thin air. At that time, Prime Minister Imran Khan characterized this turn of events as the "liberation from the shackles of subjugation." Meanwhile, General Faiz Hameed, the then Director General of the ISI, made a dramatic entrance at Kabul airport, where he wryly quipped the now-famous phrase, "tea is fantastic." This gesture was infused with sarcasm and signified a certain level of strategic satisfaction.
In addition to these developments, there were those who celebrated this moment as a resounding victory for the Afghan people, achieved against the backdrop of the United States' formidable power.
Regrettably, since the inception of the interim Afghan government, there has been a disheartening 60 percent surge in terrorist incidents and a staggering 500 percent increase in suicide attacks within Pakistan, Kakar asserted.
The prevailing sentiment in Pakistan during this time was one of euphoria, as many believed that the Afghan Taliban's victory translated into a victory for Pakistan. It was a prevailing narrative that a friendly government in Kabul would result in a setback for both India and the United States. This narrative painted the Afghan Taliban's success as a strategic win for Pakistan, creating a false sense of unity and hope among the populace.
However, the address by the caretaker prime minister painted a bleak and disheartening picture, in stark contrast to the optimism that Pakistan had held for the Taliban's triumph in Afghanistan. Speaking to the media in Islamabad, he conveyed, "Following the formation of the interim Afghan government in August 2021, we harbored a robust expectation of long-term stability in Afghanistan. We believed that decisive measures would be taken against groups opposed to Pakistan, particularly the TTP, and that they would be categorically prevented from using Afghan territory to threaten Pakistan."
Regrettably, since the inception of the interim Afghan government, there has been a disheartening 60 percent surge in terrorist incidents and a staggering 500 percent increase in suicide attacks within Pakistan, Kakar asserted. The prime minister went on to explain, "Over the past two years, we have tragically lost the lives of 2,267 innocent citizens to this relentless violence, and the responsibility for these heinous acts lies squarely with the TTP terrorists who carry out cowardly attacks against Pakistan from their bases within Afghanistan.
Throughout this period, it's important to note that 15 Afghan citizens were discovered among those individuals engaged in suicide attacks. Furthermore, up to this point, we have recorded 64 Afghan citizens who lost their lives while confronting Pakistan's law enforcement agencies during our counterterrorism efforts," he disclosed. However, it is worth mentioning that the prime minister did not furnish any additional information regarding the specific roles or involvement of Afghan nationals in any particular terrorist incident.
His statement comes in the wake of a significant escalation in terrorist incidents over the past week, including the attack on the Mianwali Training Air Base, which was claimed by the Tehreek-i-Jihad Pakistan, and an ambush in Gwadar, claimed by the Balochistan Liberation Front. Notably, no group has taken responsibility for the remaining attacks.
It was rather surprising that not a single journalist raised the question of whether the prime minister, along with those responsible for shaping Pakistan's policy on Afghanistan, would extend an apology to the people of Pakistan at large and the families of both civilian and armed forces' martyrs. Moreover, it would have been pertinent to inquire if they would commit to preventing the recurrence of similar mistakes and recognize Afghanistan as a sovereign nation capable of addressing its own issues without interference from Pakistan.
The leadership of the TTP remains situated in Afghanistan. However, the recent surge in terrorist attacks can be primarily attributed to our own flawed policies, which allowed thousands of armed militants to return to Pakistan under an agreement brokered by the Afghan Taliban.
In response to Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar's statement, the spokesperson for the Afghan Interim government, Zabiullah Mujahid, expressed their commitment to peace and stability in both Afghanistan and Pakistan. He emphasized that the Islamic Emirate does not permit the use of Afghan soil for actions against Pakistan. However, he also pointed out that the responsibility for maintaining peace in Pakistan lies with the Pakistani authorities, urging them to address their domestic challenges without attributing them to Afghanistan.
Furthermore, since the increase in security concerns in Pakistan occurred after the Islamic Emirate's victory, it cannot be logically argued that they are responsible for the surge in violence in Pakistan. Pakistan's historical policy, initially supporting the American-backed mujahideen war during the 1980s and subsequently assisting the Taliban in their conflict against American forces and the democratically elected Afghan government, inadvertently enabled cross-border movements, often at the expense of Pakistan's own national security. Notably, the leadership of the TTP remains situated in Afghanistan. However, the recent surge in terrorist attacks can be primarily attributed to our own flawed policies, which allowed thousands of armed militants to return to Pakistan under an agreement brokered by the Afghan Taliban. While external assistance might play a role, it's essential to recognize that the attacks are primarily executed by militants who are already based within our country.
It is imperative for Pakistan to acknowledge that its past involvement in destabilizing an elected government in Afghanistan, regardless of its perceived shortcomings in terms of corruption or incompetence, represents a significant historical misjudgment. It is crucial to learn from this experience and ensure that such actions are not repeated in the future. Pakistan currently finds itself in a precarious position, with few friends and growing isolation in the region. It would be unwise to further estrange potential partners and create more adversaries. Instead, a more prudent approach would involve engaging with the Afghan government and working collaboratively to find mutually beneficial solutions that promote stability and cooperation between the two nations.