Foreign Office Spokesperson in his weekly press conference said that Afghanistan seemed to have realized that Pakistan’s decision for effective border management would help reduce the movements of the militants. Last week, Nafees Zakaria said: “Peace in Afghanistan is vital for regional stability. Pakistan firmly believes in peace and stability in Afghanistan. Therefore, Pakistan is going to participate in Heart of Asia Conference being held in India because it is related to Afghanistan.” Unfortunately, India and Afghanistan did not reciprocate the gestures from Pakistan. In an oblique reference to Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing the inaugural function of the 6th Ministerial Heart of Asia conference urged action against those who support and finance terror and endanger peace in the entire South Asian region. “Silence and inaction against terrorism in Afghanistan and our region will only embolden terrorists and their masters,” Narendra Modi added.
In fact, India and Afghanistan joined hands to malign Pakistan though Pakistan had seriously tried to bring the Taliban to the negotiating table, but Northern Alliance elements and National Directorate of Security (NDS) officials tried to sabotage the talks. Leaking the news about the demise of Mullah Omer when the Taliban had decided to hold talks was a case in point. Secondly, they do not want any agreement with the Taliban who represent majority Pushtuns, as they will have to share power with them. Of course, some Taliban commanders are also against any talks with the government till the time foreign soldiers are on Afghan soil. However, the Taliban take advantage from the rift between President Ashraf Ghani and CEO Abdullah Abdullah. In June 2016, Afghan border security force had opened unprovoked firing at Torkham border where Pakistan LEA’s were building a check-post for better border management.
This attack from Afghanistan was continuation of hostile posture of security institutions of Afghan Government to thwart Pakistan’s efforts to check the movement of militants across Pak-Afghan border. Afghan leaders continued to propagate against Pakistan with regard to alleged presence of Afghan Taliban on its territory, but they were not ready to cooperate for better border security mechanism to tackle the militants more effectively. Moreover, the recent killing of top TTP commander Umar Naray in a drone strike in Afghanistan indicates that without improvement in border security the terrorists will remain a source of concern for the both sides. Hence, international community must pressurize Afghan Government to cooperate with Pakistan on critical border management and security issues. Pakistan’s stance is that it has the right to construct check posts on its side of the border and also take measures to manage its borders to stop illegal movements of the people across the Durand Line.
Even on its Iran border, Pakistan has a plan to construct a border post in Taftan, as this border crossing is also known for the illegal movement of people and goods. So is Chaman in Balochistan and numerous other border crossings along the Durand Line that need to be better managed. Pakistan wants to restrict the movements of people across the border, as Pakistan has been hosting Afghan refugees in millions, and there are some undesirable elements that create problems for Pakistan and Afghanistan. The harsh reality is that no other state in Afghanistan’s neighbourhood has hosted as many refugees as Pakistan has done until now. Immediately after President Ashraf Ghani’s coming into power, there was change in Afghanistan policy, but later he came under the influence of India and Northern Alliance who do not wish to see cordial relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
