A high-powered commission set up by Afghan Taliban chief Haibatullah Akhundzada has been working to press anti-Pakistan militants to stop violence against the neighboring country and return to their homes across the border with their families. The news was reported by an American broadcaster, however, Islamabad and Taliban have not confirmed the development yet.
Quoting sources in Islamabad, the news outlet reported that the TTP leaders were being warned by the commission to settle their problems with Pakistan and return to the country along with their families in exchange for a possible amnesty by the Pakistani government.
Pakistan has given enormous sacrifices in the war on terror, just by proximity to the region, and in its efforts to facilitate peace. Thus, we have further expectations, as well as concerns, from the Taliban; most importantly being the issue of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
The TTP was driven out of the erstwhile tribal areas by Pakistan when it launched a full scale military offensive in 2014. Most of the TTP terrorists found refuge across the border as Pakistan accused Indian spy agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and Afghanistan’s National Directorate of Security (NDS) of funding and backing the terrorist outfit.
The proscribed organization has killed more than 70,000 innocent Pakistanis, according to a report. TTP was also responsible for more than 100 cross-border attacks between July and October 2020. Since the Afghan Taliban swept Kabul at a stunning pace, there are growing concerns that groups such as the banned TTP may be further emboldened by the development.
The Afghan Taliban were fighting against foreign forces, while the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban is shedding the blood of forces and people in Pakistan at the behest of foreign forces. In such a situation, the offer of amnesty to those who killed thousands of people and caused trillions of rupees is incomprehensible.
The suppression of the TTP is important for stability in Pakistan, as well as Afghanistan, so it is in both countries’ interest to curtail the actions of the designated terrorist group. Currently, there is a need to keep a high security alert in the country and keep a close watch on the borders so that terrorist elements could not enter Pakistan under the guise of refugees.
For their part, the Afghan Taliban must stick to their promise that their country will not be used to host malign actors targeting other states. In this regard, the government’s call that the new administration in Kabul takes action against the TTP must be heeded positively.
