Khalid Masood Khan
If the findings of a US government think tank are correct in asserting that the Afghan Taliban are not willing to cease their backing of the banned TTP, this would put to bed the misguided notion held by some within our security establishment that a Taliban-run government in Kabul would benefit Pakistan. In actuality, the report released by the US Institute of Peace portrays a disquieting picture, revealing that not only are the rulers in Afghanistan allowing TTP combatants to operate with impunity on their territory, but they also believe that Pakistan will not carry out a full-scale anti-TTP operation due to its financial difficulties. The report notes that TTP agents move around with ease within Afghanistan, and also states that “the Afghan Taliban remain very supportive of the TTP and are providing the group with a permissive safe haven”. Moreover, support for the TTP appears to exist in Afghan society beyond just the Taliban, as a result of entrenched anti-Pakistan sentiments. In actual fact, some of the bombers who have executed attacks within Pakistan have been identified as Afghans. Although some of the Taliban’s ruling elite, such as the Haqqani faction, advocate for a softer stance towards Pakistan and have endeavoured to prevent the TTP from launching assaults against the country, the Taliban leader Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada remains convinced that Pakistan’s system is “un-Islamic”, a sentiment that is shared by his ideological comrades in the TTP.
It is imperative that we view the US Institute of Peace’s report through a critical lens, as it highlights some unsettling facts. The Afghan Taliban’s support for the TTP is not a new revelation, as it has been widely reported over the years that the TTP has found sanctuary in Afghanistan. However, the report provides concrete evidence that this relationship continues to this day. The Taliban, which is currently in control of the Afghan government, has the ability to expel the TTP fighters from their territory, but instead chooses to provide them with a safe haven. This raises serious questions about the sincerity of the Taliban’s commitment to peace and stability in the region, and underscores the need for Pakistan to take action to secure its borders and people.
It is abundantly clear that the TTP represents a clear and present danger to Pakistan’s security. The group has carried out countless attacks on innocent civilians and security forces, and is responsible for the deaths of thousands of people. Given the TTP’s track record of violence, it is essential that the Afghan government and the Taliban do not provide them with any form of support or safe haven. Pakistan has made it clear time and time again that it will not tolerate cross-border terrorism, and the US Institute of Peace’s report serves as a stark reminder that action must be taken to address this issue.
The report also highlights the importance of addressing the root causes of anti-Pakistan sentiment in Afghanistan. It is no secret that relations between the two countries have been strained for decades, with each side accusing the other of supporting terrorist groups. To move forward, it is essential that Pakistan and Afghanistan engage in meaningful dialogue and work towards a solution that benefits both countries. This will require a significant amount of effort and goodwill on both sides, but the stakes are too high for either country to continue down the current path of hostility.
The United States Institute of Peace has recently released a report that sheds light on the complex relationship between the Taliban rulers in Afghanistan and the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). If the analysis is accurate, it shatters any illusion that some in Pakistan’s security establishment may have harbored that a Taliban government in Kabul would be beneficial for Pakistan. In fact, the report paints a concerning picture, indicating that the Afghan Taliban is not only allowing TTP fighters to operate freely on their soil, but that they also have no intention of ending their support for the terrorist group.
The report highlights that TTP operatives have the freedom to move in and out of Afghanistan, and the Afghan Taliban provides the group with a permissive safe haven. This support for the TTP is not just limited to the Afghan Taliban but also extends to some sections of Afghan society, which harbor deeply entrenched anti-Pakistan views. This is evidenced by the fact that some of the bombers who have carried out attacks in Pakistan have been identified as Afghans.
While there are some factions within the Taliban ruling elite who favor a softer line towards Pakistan, the group’s leader, Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, remains steadfast in his belief that Pakistan’s system is un-Islamic. The Haqqani faction has tried to stop the TTP from launching attacks against Pakistan, but the group’s broader support for the TTP poses a significant threat to Pakistan’s security.
Pakistan must take immediate action to protect its interests. The country should make it clear to the Taliban rulers that supporting a group hostile to Pakistan will have far-reaching consequences. Pakistan must stop defending the Afghan government at international forums unless they take concrete steps to eliminate the TTP’s presence in Afghanistan.
Additionally, Pakistan needs to communicate with regional states to convey a unified message to Kabul that terrorists will not find a safe haven on Afghan soil. Coordinating with Russia, China, Iran, and Central Asian states is crucial to achieving this goal. These countries share concerns about terrorist groups finding refuge in Afghanistan and will support Pakistan’s efforts to neutralize the TTP.
Pakistan must also ensure that it deals with the TTP and other terrorists severely on the battlefield. While times may be tough, Pakistan must send a strong message that those who seek to harm Pakistan’s citizens and destabilize the country will face the full force of its military.
In conclusion, the US Institute of Peace’s report confirms that the Afghan Taliban’s support for the TTP poses a severe threat to Pakistan’s security. It is imperative that Pakistan takes concrete steps to protect its interests and makes it clear to the Taliban that supporting a group hostile to Pakistan will have severe consequences. Pakistan should also coordinate with regional states to ensure that terrorists cannot find refuge in Afghanistan.
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