In an interview with a delegation of Afghan journalists, Prime Minister Imran Khan has made it clear that only the Afghan people had the right to decide the fate of their country and that Pakistan had no favourites in the country. The Prime Minister ruled out that Pakistan was neither “responsible” for the actions of the Taliban nor was it in any way their spokesperson.
Pakistan’s stated Afghan policy seeks “political settlement, stability, economic development and the denial of any haven for terrorists”. Islamabad also ostensibly opposes the military takeover of Afghanistan by Taliban.
Meanwhile, the US and Pakistani national security advisers met in Washington to discuss the urgent need for a political settlement and a reduction in violence in Afghanistan through negotiations. U.S. experts are counting the reasons for the failure of the two-decade-long war in Afghanistan and comparing it to the experience in Vietnam, calling it unfortunate from the start.
While the Taliban, despite US drone strikes, has now taken over most of Afghanistan and the Islamic group is well aware of its power, it seems that the Taliban can advance towards the central and provincial capitals whenever they want. Failure to do so is part of the Taliban’s strategy to gain international recognition.
Meanwhile, a report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team has stated that Al Qaeda is present in at least 15 Afghan provinces, and that in Kandahar, Helmand and Nimruz provinces, its Indian Subcontinent chapter, or AQIS, “operates under Taliban protection” and consists mainly of Afghans and Pakistanis.
If this is indeed the case, then the Afghan Taliban’s assurances to the US that they will not allow transnational Islamist outfits to operate from its soil cannot be taken at face value. That development is certain to have a dangerous spillover effect in the region, particularly in Pakistan where signs of an uptick in militancy are already being felt.
Despite the changing situation in Afghanistan, Pakistan maintains a balance in its relations with the Afghan government and the Taliban, and seeks peace in Kabul. For which, it is ready to cooperate with any government elected by the Afghan people. Instead of making baseless allegations against Pakistan, the Afghan government should focus on its internal affairs and ensure peace in the country.
