In one of its weekly briefings, Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan had pointedly remarked on how some of the banned terrorist outfits such as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) still hold their territory in Afghanistan under the shelter of these groups, and with foreign assistance as well, including that of India. According to Khan, the Islamic republic has been supportive of terrorism in Afghanistan to a point of having plausible evidence of this backing. His comments are backed by a recent Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) report that cautions that Afghanistan has continued to be a haven to transnational terrorist groups. Although the Taliban leadership has rejected such findings as propaganda, activities and constant presence of such organization beg serious security questions regarding Pakistan and beyond.
A Wake-Up Call for Kabul
The SIGAR report findings on the continued persistence of such organizations as Al-Qaeda and the ISIS show that the Taliban-led government must be more dedicated to global standards. Kabul would be best advised to address such issues as concerns rather than to belittle them and the realization of the fact that, internationally, its credibility hinges on its ability to pursue a peaceful international engagement over a non-state association is very much important. Through practical actions to cut such ties, Afghanistan will be able to enhance its diplomatic status especially against Pakistan, which happens to be one of its neighbours, and is essential in the political and economic strength of this country.
The BLA Dilemma and Trust Deficit
Organizations such as the BLA that are fighting separation whose agenda is totally contradictory with the ideological principles of Afghanistan are another obstacle in the bilateral relations. The acceptance or even encouragement of the risks by such entity fuels further distrust between Kabul and Islamabad. Morally reviewing them is quite crucial in case Afghanistan really aims at breaking ground towards peace in the region.
The need to quickly resolve the issue is further enhanced by the deadly frequency of attacks committed in Pakistan and which are often attributed to terrorist organizations linked to BLA like the Majeed Brigade. All these instances enhance the belief that Afghan soil has continued to serve as a launchpad to anti-Pakistan militancy and this defies the trust that has grown weak between the governments.
Ideological Sympathies vs. Pragmatic Realities
As much as it is not a secret that some of the Taliban actors might have common historic or ideological ground (sympathy) with the TTP leaders such as Noor Wali Mehsud, it is even more baffling as to why they do the same to the BLA actors. In contrast to the TTP, the motives of the BLA lack the influence of the Islamist ideology and are based on the ethno-nationalist separatism. The message of colluding on a greater scale is frightening when Kabul allows room to such players within its borders, which questions the premise of mutual respect when speaking of bilateral cooperation at its face value.
In addition, there is news that there are advanced US origin weapons that are in the possession of militant groups like the BLA which should be investigated. These weapons which were probably obtained on the battlefield or through black markets are a serious threat to not only Pakistan but their safety as well. Setting up mutual mechanisms to limit diversion of arms would translate to a very concrete ACT by Kabul to show commitment to peace in the region.
Moral and Religious Responsibility
Along with geopolitics, a moral and religious aspect also must be taken into consideration. Promoting or condoning any form of militant action against a neighbour which is a Muslim majority nation would be viewed as not being in line with the international expectations and Islamic expectations. In sticking to these values, the Taliban government will be able to strengthen its moral legitimacy as it gains new grounds with regards to its Global Diplomacy.
The failure to check the truck of violence elements irrespective of ideological orientation raises concern on the actual Afghanistan intents. Active, prior measures taken to arrest the operations of these forces would do a lot in showing trust and sincerity on the part of Kabul in fostering peace.
The India Factor and External Exploitation
The other burning issue has been the reported associations of some of the TTP groups with external hostile forces, in this case, Indian intelligence services. This calls into question the fact that Afghanistan can manage to ensure that its land is not used by players who seek to destabilize the region. Reducing the area within which such exploitation to continue is not only the interest of Pakistan but it is also the strategic interest of Afghanistan not being a pawn in other greater geo-political wars. By Kabul persistently looking the other way whenever it comes to these connections, it will only end up being embroiled in conflicts that may make it even more a pariah state in the international community and a completely damaged economy.
An Opportunity for Reset
The reliance that the TTP is having on the support of the Afghans, may it be moral, logistic, or operational, affords the Taliban an exclusive option to reverse the course. Afghanistan can begin by responding to Pakistan and listening seriously to their concerns and demonstrating genuine actions to root out militant safe havens, which would allow it to start the reset process of bilateral relations. This is not a problem of the counterterrorism policy, this is about countries preparing a future where Afghanistan could be regarded as a responsible state actor instead of a half-willing actor in regional stability.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are exclusively those of the author and do not reflect the official stance, policies, or perspectives of the Platform.
