The Afghan Taliban are facing governance challenges, leading to increased security concerns for neighboring countries. The ministerial meeting of the four-nation group comprising Pakistan, China, Iran, and Russia has expressed deep concern over the security challenges emanating from Afghanistan, stating that the active “terrorist groups” in the country pose a serious threat to regional and global security. This four-nation meeting was held in New York during the annual session of the United Nations General Assembly.
The Taliban’s interim government in Afghanistan has significantly strengthened its grip on power over the past three years, but concerns about their governance style, economic and social vision, human rights, women’s rights, and counter-terrorism measures have increased worldwide. The presence and facilitation of groups like ISIS, Al-Qaeda, and TTP have raised alarms not just for the US and Europe, but for all of Afghanistan’s neighboring countries.
Governments around the world and Afghanistan’s neighbors feel that despite the Taliban presenting themselves as powerful, the situation does not validate this claim. Terrorist groups active within Afghanistan are fueling regional tensions. The international community, particularly the US, UK, and Germany, is increasingly critical of Afghanistan.
Pakistan is not the only country concerned about the establishment of terrorist groups on Afghan soil and their freedom of movement. Other neighboring countries, including China, Russia, Iran, and Central Asian Muslim states, share similar apprehensions. Meetings continue to be held to address the situation, with the Afghan government also in attendance. The policies of the Afghan interim government suggest they are not serious or significant about taking action against armed groups present on their soil.
The Taliban face governance challenges, heightening security fears for neighboring countries. These concerns have also emerged in UN reports. Despite Pakistan’s repeated concerns regarding TTP, the Taliban have failed to resolve the issue. Incidents of terrorism in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are alarming. TTP has connections with international terrorist groups.
It was essential for the Afghan authorities to adhere to the terms of the Doha Agreement and signal to the world that they have eradicated terrorist groups. However, this has not happened. During the Doha negotiations, the Taliban assured the world that Afghan soil would not be used for terrorism against any country and that women’s rights would be protected, especially regarding education and employment. They also promised to involve various ethnic, linguistic, and regional groups in governance and address their concerns, but none of these commitments have been fulfilled. This failure is why no country has recognized the Taliban’s interim government three years on.
The Taliban had repeatedly announced during the Doha Agreement negotiations that they would focus on Afghanistan’s economic development once in power. However, today, Afghanistan’s economy is in a dire state, with GDP shrinking to approximately 30%.
According to global estimates, thousands of jobs have been lost, largely due to the cessation of aid and donations following the US military withdrawal. Seventy percent of the population lacks adequate food. As a result of unmet conditions, the US and other nations have imposed sanctions on the Afghan interim government. According to the UN, 90% of the nearly 40 million population lives below the poverty line.
Analysts in Pakistan, who often compare the dollar rates in Pakistan and Afghanistan, claiming the Afghan government is achieving economic successes, are in reality spreading despair in Pakistan. It is undeniable that many other Muslim countries also host militant organizations. Armed groups are active in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen, Libya, Sudan, and Somalia, which the West and the UN have designated as terrorists. The instability in the Middle East and Western Asia can largely be attributed to these organizations, as they challenge the authority of governments with their agendas.
These organizations are like genies out of a bottle; once released, they are difficult to rein in. The Muslim countries that support them are often dependent on others for their economic matters, which limits their ability to back these groups indefinitely. Consequently, they become burdensome. Pakistan itself is experiencing such repercussions. Thus, the state’s policy now is to not tolerate any terrorist group, regardless of the cost.
We have provided refuge to Afghan citizens, shared our resources with them, and opened our country from Khyber to Karachi for them. The burden that no other large country was willing to bear, we have taken on. While the Afghan Taliban were fighting against the US, they received support from us. Now, all these favors are being repaid by providing safe havens to organizations hostile to Pakistan, which are targeting our innocent civilians and security personnel. The Afghan government, instead of stopping these groups, supports them. What accusation has not been levied against Pakistan for aiding the Taliban? Russia has never been pleased with our role in the first Afghan war. The US recently stated that Pakistan faces the greatest threat from terrorist groups operating from Afghan soil.
Terrorism has become a grave issue for Pakistan, and it is distressing that these acts are being carried out by militant groups seeking refuge in neighboring Afghanistan, targeting Pakistan’s security forces, civilians, and key installations. Pakistan has made it clear that it will not tolerate any terrorist group. Currently, some elements within the Afghan interim government are backing TTP and using it as a tool against Pakistan.
Afghanistan is our second home, and we desire to maintain the best relations with the Islamic state of Afghanistan at all costs. The Taliban interim government should not forget Pakistan’s kindness and should not allow its territory to be used by those hostile to Pakistan. We continuously send messages of peace and reconciliation to Afghanistan, but the Afghan interim government is not taking any practical action. For better relations, it is essential to expel terrorist groups, and if soft words have no effect on the rulers, then they should understand that all terrorist hideouts are under Pakistan’s watch. If surgical strikes are necessary, they should not be surprised. Not a day goes by without terrorists crossing the border from Afghanistan to attack Pakistan. Pakistan is showing restraint, and this should not be misunderstood as weakness.
Pakistan does not want to retaliate against our brother country of Afghanistan, but perhaps the Taliban rulers of Afghanistan do not want peace along the Pak-Afghan border either. Afghanistan, as a sovereign nation, should decide whether strengthening its economy is a priority or harboring terrorist organizations that cause severe concern for both themselves and their neighbors.
Pakistan is currently focused on a policy prioritizing its economy. Its primary goal is to stabilize the economy as quickly as possible. Pakistan should engage in definitive dialogue with the Afghan government, and if the sheltering of terrorists continues, the Afghan government will be held accountable for the consequences. We are aware of how India is being facilitated. We hope to resolve the issue through dialogue; otherwise, Pakistan reserves the right to take decisive action and will be compelled to take whatever steps are necessary for its defense.