In the wake of terrorist attacks on Zhob Garrison, Sui and Parachinar incidents, the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir and later Defence Minister Khawaja Asif gave unusually open and stern statements regarding the safe havens and liberty of action available to Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in Afghanistan. COAS gave this statement on his visit to the Quetta Garrison, where he was briefed on the recent terrorist attack in Zhob in which ten soldiers of the Pakistan Army were martyred. The security forces also killed assailants who were armed to teeth for this operation (14 July).

General Asim Munir didn’t mince words to remind the interim Afghan government that it should not allow the terrorist groups to use its soil to perpetrate terrorism against any country in a real sense and in line with the commitments made in the Doha Agreement. He also expressed grave concern over the involvement of Afghan nationals in acts of terrorism in Pakistan. “Such attacks are intolerable and will elicit an effective response from the security forces of Pakistan,” the army chief warned. The next day Defence Minister seconded his views.

Conversely, the spokesperson of the Interim Afghan Government, Zabhiullah Mujahid reportedly tried to deflect it by asking for the evidence of the allegations that TTP was based in Afghanistan. He also asserted that Pakistan was not part of Doha Accord which was signed between the Afghan Taliban and the US. He totally ignored the fact that a number of rounds of talks had taken place between Pakistan and TTP in Kabul under the aegis of Taliban government. Taliban even contemplated to shift the TTP elements and their families from Kunar and Nangrahar provinces of Afghanistan to far off Northern Afghanistan. Secondly, the first clause of Doha Accord clearly indicates that Taliban would ensure that terrorist groups do not operate from Afghanistan soil to harm the US and its allies. Pakistan has been the strongest non-NATO ally of the US. Zabhiullah’s assertions do not hold water. Even the Taliban leaders, having a mild disposition, dismissed this statement as irresponsible.

Earlier, Afghan government had suggested that Pak-Afghan business and trade relations should remain unaffected in case the terrorist attacks in Pakistan are purportedly conducted by the terrorist groups from within Afghanistan. By this standard Pakistan retains the right to retaliate for countering terrorism in the areas from where terrorism emanates. It can be done in form of air strikes on the TTP hideouts in Afghanistan. Even intelligence operations can be conducted inside Afghanistan to target the TTP leadership. COAS and the Defence Minister have made these points amply clear. It, however, sounds a bit unpragmatic as killings and cooperation might not gel well. Terrorism and counter terrorism would definitely create schisms and misunderstandings between Pakistan and Afghan Taliban government. Afghan Taliban cannot continue to harbour the killers of the personnel of Pakistan’s forces and expect a smooth relationship with Pakistan. If it wants to emulate India or the US, it would have serious repercussions for them and the region as well

TSB had pointed out in the previous issue after the above attacks that ‘the collusion of TTP and BLA and other terrorist groups in Balochistan has compounded the situation. They tend to indulge in intelligence sharing, exchange of militants and attacks on each other’s targets. They are reportedly trained in camps inside Afghanistan. The return of hundreds of TTP militants because of flawed negotiations during the last regime has reenergized them and enabled them to carry out forays with greater fortitude and ferocity. No doubt, there is need to ensure more cohesive, resolute, and robust response by the intelligence agencies and LEAs.’

It is high time to pressurise the Afghan Taliban government to bridle the TTP elements within its jurisdiction. Pakistan can continue to talk with the Afghan Taliban on this issue but zero tolerance should be adopted on terrorist attacks planned and executed from across the border. Pakistan is left with no choice but to go all out to retaliate and annihilate the terrorists and their supporters.

_{Author: Dr.Naveed Elahi}