Pakistan and Afghanistan are not only neighbors but also share common, cultural, historical, ethnic, and religious ties. Both countries also share a 2250 KM long border, known as the “Durand Line” which was demarcated by the British in 1893. Due to its geo-strategic importance, Afghanistan is not the only gateway to Central Asian countries but linked Pakistan with Central Asian countries through the Wakhan strip. Pakistan got independence in 1947 and it was not only recognized but opposed by Afghanistan at United Nations. Since then Pakistan faced a hostile attitude from Afghanistan except for the Taliban rule (1997-2001). Otherwise, all rulers of Afghanistan showed fluctuating behavior towards Pakistan.
The phenomenon of using Afghan soil against its neighbor Pakistan is not new, it’s as old as Pakistan is. From day one Afghanistan creates problems for Pakistan by claiming not only “Durand Line” as its part but Pakistani territory of NWFP and some part of Baluchistan as its part. Afghanistan started to raise the issue of Pakhtunistan by providing financial assistance and ammunitions to tribal Malaita. They supported Baloch separatists and encouraged them to challenge Pakistani authorities. Sardar Dawood was the Afghan ruler who first raised the issue of “Durand Line” and Pashtonistan. Burning the Pakistan flag, threatening diplomats and border closer were seen in his era.
Pakistan’s foreign policy is based on establishing ‘friendly and cordial relations with all nations including neighbors. After the Russian invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, Pakistan accepted an influx of Afghan refugees, and now about 3 million Afghan refugees residing in Pakistan. After the US invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, Pakistan pay a heavy price and suffered more than any country in the region. It lost 80,000 lives and a 100 million dollar economy loss. Pakistani forces fought a decade-long war with terrorists to bring peace to the country. But Afghan soil remained the main hub of organized terrorist networks that operate against Pakistan like Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Baluch Liberation Army (BLA) and then went to bordering areas of Afghanistan. India is another big factor that uses Afghan soil against Pakistan. There was a time when dozens of Indian consulates working in Afghanistan were clearly involved to create instability in Pakistan. Many times Pakistan conveyed to the Afghan government for use of its soil against Pakistan but no serious action was taken. The arrest of Indian spy Kulboshan Jadhav unmasked the Indian involvement by using Afghan soil against Pakistan.
In order to prevent illegal smuggling and cross-border terrorism in 2005 Pakistan decide to fence its western border. Fencing its 2250 KM log border was not an easy task for the Pak government. According to the government, 90% of fencing has been completed and the remaining 10% will complete soon.
After the fall of Kabul and the Taliban took over Afghanistan on 15 August 2021, it was believed that Afghanistan soil will not be used against Pakistan. Taliban have also assured all neighboring countries that Afghan soil will not use against them. But multiple times fence disruption by Taliban forces and attacks by Tehreek-i-Taliban (TTP) and Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) on Pakistan security forces have been reported. This is not the first time that border fencing became a flashpoint between the two countries, especially after the Taliban takeover. Last year in December Taliban destroyed the fence installed by Pakistan and similar incidents happen later. In response to fence disruption, Director General Inter-Services Press Release (ISPR) Maj Gen Babar Iftikhar said the Pak-Afghan border fence will not only be complete but will remain installed because the blood of martyrs includes in it.
Pakistan government asked the Taliban government to negotiate with Pakistani Taliban living in mountainous areas near the Pak-Afghan border, under the ambit of Pakistan law, but TTP refused to do so. Although an interim ceasefire was made it was canceled due to their harsh demands. There is an imminent threat of Daesh and Baluch insurgents living in Iran can also join TTP. The Taliban government in Kabul is not pressurizing enough TTP to make a permanent ceasefire with Pakistani authorities because they have the fear that if they pressurize them they would join Daesh or ISIS which will create problems for them.
Pakistan is doing everything for Afghanistan, more than its capacity and burden. Pakistan is not only providing humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan but facilitating a large number of Afghan refugees who cross daily into Pakistan. Pakistan is demanding from the rest of the world to do more for Afghanistan, restore its frozen asserts, and recognize the Taliban government. The recent conference of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) in Islamabad over the Afghan crisis was a big step taken by Pakistan.
Pakistan government for a long time urging Taliban to take action against Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan or deny them space to operate out of Afghan soil. But in recent days Pakistan has witnessed a surge of attacks in many of its parts, Lahore, Islamabad, Baluchistan’s Panjgur, and Naushki areas which resulted in the loss of a number of lives. The responsibility for the attacks was claimed by TTP and BLA. According to intelligence inputs, the recent attacks against Pakistan forces all were planned from across the border and the attackers were connected with their handlers in Afghanistan.
The result is Afghan soil becomes a threat to Pak-National security. In his recent visit of Pakistan’s National Security Adviser Dr, Moeed Yusuf to Afghanistan, the Taliban had assured that Afghan soil would not be used against any country including Pakistan.
After the fall of Kabul and the US evacuation from Afghanistan India’s role in Afghanistan is zero. India was a direct beneficiary of a two-decades-long U.S. presence in Afghanistan. Now India is searching for a new role in Afghanistan and its embassy in Kabul is still close. If India succeeds in getting a new role in Afghanistan then India will fully exploit the situation as exploited in the past. This thing will deteriorate the relationship between Pakistan and the Taliban government. India wants to derail China Pakistan Economic Corridor by providing assistance to anti-Pakistan elements like Baluch Liberation Army and Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan.
It can also use some Afghan elements like National Resistance Front (NRF) which has anti-Pakistan sentiment and other anti-Pakistan factions as well.
At present India had tried to use the recent Pak-Afghan border disruption and attacks on Pak-security forces by TTP and BLA through fake propaganda. To counter India’s new search on Afghan soil, Pakistan needs to engage with the Taliban diplomatically and convince them that India’s role and influence on Afghan soil will not only endanger Pakistan’s sovereignty but harmful, relations of both countries. On the other side, the Taliban government should strictly fulfill its commitments to not allow anyone to use its soil against any country.
