Zeshan Kamran
Paradoxically, since the ouster of Taliban regime, Afghanistan has continuously witnessed strife, instability and confrontation between the Kabul government and the former warring groups. The Afghan security mechanism is weak, shaky and heavily dependent on extra regional forces led by the USA. Ironically, due to protracted presence of foreign forces, the country has twisted between different strategic perspectives, policies and proxy wars of regional and global stakeholders. Resultantly, the tremors of terrorism emanating from Afghanistan are affecting the security and strategic paradigms of the neighbouring countries more seriously than before. Being geographically contagious and due to its role and interests, Pakistan has remained a frontline state in bearing the simmering effects of an unstable Afghanistan.
Present Afghan government led by Ashraf Ghani is making all out efforts to achieve Peace and stability for the country, but unfortunately the weeds of opposition within Afghanistan are harming the Afghan government’s multilateral initiatives which could disrupt the positive momentum being initiated by Ashraf Ghani. Pakistan and Afghanistan have remained victims of terrorism unleashed in the region as a part of “new great game”. More annoying is the fact that the vested quarters have always attempted to hamper smooth fostering of trust based relations between the two countries. The deteriorating situation in Afghanistan also provided ample opportunities to the agenda of hostile elements while continuing with their nefarious and sinister activities. These have been fueling proxy war phenomenon as a popular business in the region. In the backdrop of APS Peshawar incident, Pakistan expressed its firm resolve to eradicate the menace of terrorism. The resolve was supported by Afghan leadership led by Mr. Ashraf Ghani. His encouraging inclination to jointly bring peace in the region, paved the way for an expanded cooperation between both the countries. Frequent bilateral visits, Heart of Asia conference meetings, quadrilateral talks and peace dialogue process between the conflicting Afghan Taliban and the Afghan government remained the prominent contours of bilateral cooperation.
Pakistan is sincerely committed to play a positive role and creating a facilitating atmosphere for the dialogues and Pakistan has already committed herself and no irritant can deter Pakistan from endeavoring for a peaceful Afghanistan. Mr Ghani’s overtures to Islamabad have some sneering within Afghanistan particularly among what many Afghans see as an emerging ‘opposition’ to the national unity government in the shape of a group consisting of former President Karzai and some of his closest allies. Besides, the security situation in Afghanistan has broadly turned into a new dimension of concern and confusion. Hamid Karzai, who is known for being influenced by India has once again come out of his cocoon. His negative pursuits were quite obvious from his uttered statements, downgrading the Pakistan’s efforts towards achieving peace and stability in Afghanistan and beyond. Moreover, such elements are attempting to woo or coerce Afghan Taliban by giving space to inflated reports about differences in their ranks and extending hyper projection to ISIS activities in Afghanistan. Pakistan has always welcomed reconciliation efforts between the Afghan Government and the Afghan Taliban but also warned about the “spoilers of peace”.
Experts are of the opinion that Indian influence has almost seep down to the grass root level in Afghan government, political and diplomatic circles which has casted unimaginable negativity effecting almost every major decision of the Afghan government. The increasing cooperation between Pakistan and Afghanistan was also viewed negatively by forces waging proxies in the region. They try to scuttle every such effort by up scaling the proxy propelled terrorist activities in both countries. With the start of 2016, hostile elements under the fear of losing space in Afghanistan have further intensified their sinister attempts. The promoters of chaos seem to have changed their tactics slightly; however, the bedrock objective remains the same. In an attempt to hoodwink the international community, two terrorist incidents of Pathankot (2 Jan 16)and Mazar-e-Sharif Indian consulate (4 Jan 16) were stage managed by India to create a smoke screen and justify claims of being victim to terrorism. Whereas, rest of the incidents including Pak consulate Jalalabad (13 Jan), Quetta incidents (13 & 19 Jan 16), Peshawar (19 Jan 16) and Bacha Khan University Charsada incident(20 Jan) and Afghan National Civil Order Police headquarters Kabul incident (01 Feb 16) were managed through proxies. The objectives were; to fan feelings of suspicion and mistrust between Afghan government and Pakistan, to affect their growing bilateral engagements, to terrorize Pakistani people to dilute the impression of success of the operation Zarb-e-Azb, to intensify blame game against Pakistan, to disrupt the peace process and project ISIS presence to counterweight Afghan Taliban. As expected, a terrorist incident in Quetta ( 6 Feb) was registered to affect the quadrilateral meeting in Islamabad and intelligence cooperation engagements between Pak and Afghanistan. The said damaging trend has the potential to derail the ongoing initiatives of fostering good relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Pakistan has always desired for peaceful and prosperous Afghanistan and endeavored to foster friendly, cooperative and progressing relations. Through diplomatic, political and Military channels, Pakistan has been reiterating for the same with usual vigor, esteem, hope and full of commitment. Pakistan has also exhibited diplomatic magnanimity over any disheartening response from Afghanistan. In the presence of the prevailing negativity, Pakistan government needs to be careful against the efforts being made by the anti-Pakistan elements and her adversaries to disrupt the ongoing good relations and military / intelligence cooperation between the two Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Experts have a unanimous view that the “dialogue process” between Afghan government and Afghan Taliban is the only way forward and key to the resolution of Afghan situation. It is the only way to give peace a chance in Afghanistan. The elements opposed to a peaceful Afghanistan have always attempted to hinder every positive outcome of Pak-Afghan engagement by exploiting proxies to carryout terrorism either on Afghan soil or in Pakistan. In this context India has appeared as the only spoiler in Afghanistan, which is exploiting TTP, ISIS, ETIM etc against Pakistan and China. Sinister activities of India in the Afghan chessboard have been authenticated and confirmed by the statement of Charles Timothy Hagel, Former US Defense Secretary. Besides, the Indian nexus with TTP leaders like Hakimullah Mahsood and revelation of Latifullah Mahsood, Mulla Fazaluulah and APS incident, exploitation of Baloch sub nationalists, Ajeet Doval’s offensive-defensive doctrine anti-Pakistan statements of Indian/BJP leadership are the broad day confession of the facts. Unfortunately with the start of 2016, frequency of terrorist incidents in Afghanistan has increased manifold indicating the frustration of the spoiler after her proxies were uprooted from Pakistani soil. Moreover, people of Afghanistan are also feeling wary of protracted proxy warfare, strife and lawlessness in their country and are desirous for peace, which needs to be supported by the regional and international countries .