It is time Pakistan and Afghanistan should sit down and devise a strategy to combat the militants and do away with the menace once and for all
By: Asem Mustafa Awan
How many have died in cross-border fire, the official and unofficial count may vary as the bullets and shells while taking human lives erase many accounts.
The two sides across the border have many issues and the recent rise in cross-border shelling is a preamble that there is more to come if grievances, real or perceived, are not resolved.
The past few months also display a systematic pattern and while connecting the dots the emerging picture of the region appears gruesome.
The shelling from Afghanistan side and martyrdom of the troops have raised alarms in the security establishment as upsurge in militancy from across the border depicts that there is something big getting hatched.
The border that has thousands of people going to and fro gets shut after the incident and the two sides hold talks with renewed commitment that these miscreants will be taken to task.
Afghanistan has time and again assured the world, particularly Pakistan, that it will not allow its soil to be used against any country but this commitment needs to be weighed against words as the ground realities at the borders tell another story.
Pakistan has demanded strict action from the Afghan authorities against the officials involved in unprovoked shelling that resulted in loss of lives.
The border stands closed after the incident and forces have been beefed for the unforeseen owing to the tense situation. So far, no reason has been given for this uncalled for attack while it is believed and there is a strong possibility that an Afghanistan border security forces don’t want the fence that is erected for the safety of people living on both sides of the border.
Last month, Minister of State for External Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar visited Afghanistan and many issues were raised besides border management, measures against terrorism, bilateral trade and expansion of trade from Afghanistan to Central Asian countries. The dust of the visit had not settled when this incident happened. Pakistan diplomat in Afghanistan also came under attack that was evacuated by the gallant security guard who got wounded in his protection.
US State Department spokesman Ned Price issued a statement saying that the US reserves the right to take action if the Afghan Taliban do not fulfill their promises. Keeping all these details in mind, the results of provocation by Afghan forces on borders at KPK and Balochistan reveal a different scenario.
The Afghan authorities have been requested time and again to increase their capacity to suppress the terrorist groups while Daesh and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan have increased their attacks on Pakistan’s soil.
The TTP has announced the termination of the ceasefire agreement with Pakistan some time ago. Pakistan held talks with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan on the guarantee of Afghan Taliban but negotiations have resulted in two sides sticking to their grounds and ceasefire at present exists no more.
The terrorist activities from TTP has once again deteriorated the situation warranting immediate attention from the two governments as if it stays unchecked there is a likelihood of a backlash that will engulf the region in an unending bloodshed.
Pakistan is of the opinion that rogue elements have infiltrated the Afghan border forces who are hell bent on making the relations between the two countries sour.
There is a long list of incidents that took place in November alone where the two sides exchanged fire and in December the militancy has taken another turn where armed assailants barged in Counter Terrorism Department Bannu, KPK holding many people hostage.
The assailants demanded safe passage to Afghanistan along with their detained associates who were held by CTD Bannu. The army was called in and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on assembly floor shared the details. However details from Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) chief Major General Ahmed Sharif late Tuesday state 25 terrorists were killed. Three terrorists were arrested while seven surrendered.
Subedar Major Khurshid Akram, Sepoy Saeed, and Sepoy Babar embraced martyrdom in carrying out the mission with 10 getting injured including two officers.
The sudden rise in militancy inside Pakistan shows that miscreants are again gathering their forces and have an agenda to create fear and chaos in Pakistan.
The details of the standoff at CTD Bannu had one the detainee’s making an ambush attack on CTD official and after injuring the staff the situation changed as with snatched weapon the person released the other militants who overpowered the staff at the office.
It is time Pakistan and Afghanistan should sit down and devise a strategy to combat the militants and do away with the menace once and for all.
The fence from Pakistan side in securing the Afghan border was one key factor that controlled the inflow of the public and it was for their own safety but it is not fully complete as yet and these vulnerable spots are capitalized by the terrorists.
The world is watching the two countries with great concern as one. Afghanistan. has emerged out from over two decades of conflict with American and its allied troops while the other, ,Pakistan, has suffered the backlash of the ‘war on terror’ giving out over 80,000 lives.
This recent wave of cross-border terrorism is believed and viewed to have many things in its fold which will come out in due course of time but it is prayed and hoped that it is curtailed and Pakistan nips the evil in the bud.
