The Afghan Taliban recently engaged in unprovoked heavy weapon fire on Pakistani border posts. In retaliation, Pakistan killed eight Afghan Taliban members and injured sixteen others, including two key commanders.
Those attacking Pakistani border posts, security personnel, police, and various checkpoints are armed with modern weapons left behind by NATO forces during their withdrawal from Afghanistan. Additionally, during the regimes of Hamid Karzai and Ashraf Ghani, the U.S. trained the Afghan National Army (ANA) and equipped it with advanced weaponry. In line with its tradition, the ANA surrendered without a fight, with many soldiers returning home, while those who remained joined the Taliban, putting this arsenal in Taliban hands.
A pressing question arises: how did these advanced weapons under Taliban control end up with the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists? This situation is impossible without the Taliban administration’s support. On the other hand, Afghanistan’s interim Taliban government has never addressed Pakistan’s concerns but has consistently supported and backed the TTP, a practice that continues openly. This raises the question of why Afghan territory is repeatedly used against Pakistan despite Pakistan’s numerous protests. The recent attack is concrete evidence that terrorist activities along the Pakistani border and within Pakistan are linked to Afghanistan.
On August 15, 2021, when the Taliban took control of Kabul under the Doha Agreement, Pakistan’s government and far-right political parties celebrated. The then-Prime Minister even declared that the Taliban had broken the chains of slavery. At the time, Taliban sympathizers in Pakistan claimed that the terrorists in Afghanistan would be eliminated because the Taliban would shut down Indian training camps and consular offices. Supporters of the Taliban began threatening India, saying, “First, we conquered Kabul; now, we will conquer Kashmir,” and promoted the propaganda that the Afghan Taliban were allies and brothers of Pakistan.
However, the Taliban soon dispelled these illusions by declaring that Kashmir was a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan, and they would not fight in Kashmir. After seizing power, the Taliban broke open prisons, releasing detained TTP terrorists, and later announced the release of TTP members involved in terrorist activities in Pakistan.
Apart from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and a few religious parties, most popular political leaders and intellectuals in Pakistan opposed the pro-Taliban policies, warning of dire and dangerous consequences, which have now materialized. Terrorism in Pakistan has surged dramatically since the Taliban’s rise to power in Afghanistan. Despite the martyrdom of security forces and innocent civilians, several so-called defense analysts, PTI leaders, religious parties, and some religious figures still support the Taliban, often resorting to conditional support and justifications.
Taliban supporters in Pakistan argued that peace would be established in Pakistan if NATO forces left Afghanistan and the Taliban took over. However, current events prove that the Taliban’s control has destroyed whatever peace was left in Pakistan. The illegal trade and smuggling of dangerous prohibited items across the Pakistan-Afghanistan and Pakistan-Iran borders have severely damaged Pakistan’s economy. The Afghan Taliban government has not made any efforts to curb this illegal and dangerous trade.
The Afghan government’s lenient policies play a significant role in the escalating terrorism in Pakistan. Afghan citizens have been found involved in terror attacks within Pakistan, with several suicide bombers entering Pakistan from Afghanistan.
Northwestern Pakistan has become a safe haven for terrorists due to underdevelopment and the influence of a few powerful individuals. Given Pakistan’s role in peace efforts, there were high hopes that the Taliban’s interim government would stop terrorist activities against Pakistan and foster friendly relations. However, Kabul’s Taliban administration has continued the same behavior as the puppet governments of Hamid Karzai and Ashraf Ghani. Pakistan has serious concerns about the sanctuaries available to banned organizations and their free operations from Afghan soil. The failed terrorist attacks are clear evidence that Pakistan’s security forces are thwarting the enemy’s plans.
Therefore, the interim Afghan government should adhere to the promises made in the Doha Agreement. Pakistan is a friend of Afghanistan. If the Afghan Taliban government faces difficulties in cracking down on TTP, ISIS, or Al-Qaeda, it should involve Pakistan and other regional powers to find solutions. Pakistan is employing effective measures to counter external threats along with diplomatic efforts. Pakistan has faced Afghan hostility since before August 14, 1947.
Afghanistan opposed Pakistan’s membership in the United Nations and even committed acts of aggression in 1960-61. When the Pakistani government recognized Afghanistan’s intentions, a counteraction led to the retreat of Afghan forces. Most terrorist activities in Pakistan are traced back to Afghanistan. Even today, the Taliban government maintains friendly relations with India. The tragic irony of Indian policymakers is that they refuse to engage in dialogue with Pakistan but maintain good relations with Afghanistan, even though Pakistan has always advocated for good relations with India.
The need of the hour is for the world to take preventive measures rather than waiting for another 9/11. Regional and global forums should provide assistance on various issues, including Afghanistan’s economic problems, and link trade relations with anti-terrorism efforts to prevent new crises, such as refugee influxes.
Pakistan has consistently urged the Afghan government to ensure effective border management on both sides, as failure to do so will create challenges for both countries. If Kabul continues on its current path, the little goodwill it still has internationally may vanish. If the Afghan government remains unresponsive despite repeated complaints, Pakistan knows how to defend its borders and citizens.