Afghanistan spews venom against Pakistan

Pakistan has every right to fence its side of the border with Afghanistan, and UN cannot stop Pakistan from exercising its right in its territory. Of course, better border management is in the interest of both the countries; however with stopping illegal movements President Ashraf Ghani and NDS would lose the opportunity to blame Pakistan for any act of terrorism in Afghanistan. According to a blog on CRSS – Centre for Research and Security Studies, Afghanistan has formally approached the United Nations against Pakistan for what officials in Kabul call “illegal closure of the border, rocketing and Pakistan military activities” along the border or the Durand Line. Afghan Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmad Shakeeb Mustaghni believed that “Pakistan’s actions in recent years were in violation of the accepted international laws, and the UN Security Council could take decision on the basis of its evidence shared with the world body.
Days after the UK-brokered talks were held, Pakistani and Afghan officials confirmed both sides had agreed on a bilateral mechanism to coordinate at military-to-military, intelligence-to-intelligence and diplomatic level to address to each other’s concerns. It was the time for follow-up actions in line with the London’s understanding but Mustaghni’s remarks reflect a different mood in Kabul. Bilateral track is the best option for the two neighbours to find out solution to disputes because inviting foreign intervention could further complicate the already tense relationship. The blog said: “In spite of tensions, bilateral channels are open and should be utilized. Both countries should equally take the blame for the current mistrust that also badly affects the people-to-people contacts. Afghan leaders’ blame game has no doubt spoiled the atmosphere.”
Afghan leadership will have to review its policies towards Pakistan if they expect anything good from Pakistan. Kabul will have to remove deep suspicions in the mind of the people in Pakistan whether it maintains a balanced approach in relationship with other countries. Pakistan was indeed annoyed when Afghanistan followed India to boycott the SAARC Summit that was scheduled to be held in November last year. Government of Pakistan and people of Pakistan were upset over the remarks of President Ashraf Ghani in Amritsar in December 2016, in which he publicly rejected Pakistan’s offer of 500-million dollars assistance. Pakistanis were also shocked when Kabul refused to attend the ECO summit in Islamabad at highest level on March 1 despite representation of nine members at the head of state and head of government level. Pakistan had indeed tried to bring Taliban on the negotiating table.
Afghanistan has suspicions that Pakistan is not pushing the Taliban hard to come to the negotiating table. Of course, Pakistan and China had a key role in this initiative when diplomats from the three countries laid foundation for this process in December. The process of informal consultation was expanded to six-nation meet in Moscow in February. Now the focus is on the upcoming meeting in Moscow on April 14-15 as Russia has invited more countries to join. One of the important aspects of the Russian initiative is that Pakistan is now engaged with Afghanistan is this initiative. Taliban, who had always suspicions about such initiatives, have come up with positive response to the Moscow-led efforts. The U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s recent statement on the possible peace process has raised some hopes.
In his address Mahmoud Saikal, Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to the United Nations Security Council in a ‘Debate on the Situation in Afghanistan’ had spewed venom against Pakistan. Afghan leaders are playing in the hands of India who does not wish to see peace in Afghanistan. Having all said, COAS General Bajwa last month said that Pakistan Army would employ all resources required for defence of the motherland, and safety and security of peace loving tribes. He said that efforts were in hand to evolve a bilateral border security mechanism with Afghan authorities. He said that a better managed, secure and peaceful border was in mutual interest of both countries, who had given phenomenal sacrifices in the war against terrorism.