Why a downturn in Pak-Afghan Relations?

Afghanistan is the most significant fault line in the world that has the power to change the regional and global power politics.  Pakistan being the neighbor directly gets affected by each ongoing scenario that takes place in Afghanistan. Pakistan has always tried to build enhanced relations with Afghanistan but the issues like border tension; Taliban fuss and US presence  has always created hurdles in sustaining better relations. Relations between the two neighbors have taken another downturn as Afghanistan cancels the military visit to Pakistan. Pakistan Army had invited more than 10 Afghan officers to participate in military drills in Quetta but officers refused to come after what the Afghan government called ‘unacceptable Pakistani shelling’ across Durand Line. Pakistan calling the Afghanistan government reaction ‘overreacting’ as Pakistani troops responded to intrusion from the Afghan side in a disciplined and responsible way. The recent happenings are definitely fading the hopes for cooperation which we were expecting after trilateral meeting in London.

Pakistan has always been blamed that Talibans from Pakistani soil are intruding and conducting terrorist activities in Afghanistan, however it is blatant reality that a vast area of Afghanistan is under Taliban, they don’t need safe heavens in Pakistan. Pakistan has shown concerns over continued presence of TTP in Kunar and Nooristan, presence of ISAF and NATO in these areas questions TTP activities and safe heavens.

Lately a report has been presented by Pakistan Army and intelligence in Supreme Court during the hearing of Adyala Jail missing prisons case. Report says that forty nine thousands people have been killed in war against terrorism including fifteen-thousand five hundred security personnel.  Many other reports also corroborate these statistics. About TTP, Report evidently articulates about coalition of TTP and Afghan government which can be resulted in an increase number of terrorist attacks in Mehmund Agency, Bajor Agency, Sawat, Deer and Chitraal. TTP has been broken in various factions and some of these in shape of sectarian groups are conducting terrorist activities in Quetta and Karachi to hit Shia community. Report also indicates about TTP Swat link with Afghanistan government. Pakistan has stated various times that terrorist from Afghanistan are intruding in Pakistan to fuel terrorism on Pakistani soil. Last month, Afghan forces arrested a senior Pakistani Taliban leader Maulvi Faqir Mohammad in eastern Nangarhar province and Pakistan is asking to handover him to Pakistan but yet no answer. Recently Afghanistan protests Pakistan’s border construction, physical reinforcement. It’s about time; Pakistan mines and fences the entire border with Afghanistan to stop the illegal entry of agents and militants from Afghanistan. How many Pakistani civilians and security people have to die before the government is serious about securing the border. If the US can build a big barrier along its southern border to prevent illegal Mexicans from entering its land, they should help Pakistan do the same. It is high time Pakistan sent back the Afghan refugees and closed the border to terrorist activities coming from Afghanistan. Issues with Afghanistan can be resolved only if Afghanistan government look forward to build better relations with Pakistan.  Enhanced relations between two neighbors are essential for peaceful region; elements hindering this process should not be allowed to succeed in their destructive motives.

Asha Khan