Malik M. Ashraf<\/p>\n
For quite some time, Paki\u00adstan has been enduring con\u00adtinued terrorist attacks on mosques, shrines, markets, law enforcement agencies, secu\u00adrity institutions, and mili\u00adtary checkpoints. Lately, the terrorists are focus\u00ading more on attacks on law enforcement agen\u00adcies and military check\u00adpoints, including Zhob and Chitral Garrisons. These attacks were carried out by TTP operatives based in Afghanistan, supported by Afghan nationals. The terrorists used weapons and night vision equipment left behind by US forces in Afghanistan.
\nThe government of Pakistan and security establishment have been exhibiting utmost patience against these provocations and have all along been urging the Afghan gov\u00adernment not to allow sanctuaries for TTP operatives on its soil, stop the TTP from carrying out attacks in Pakistan, and also ensure that Afghan nationals refrain from sup\u00adporting these heinous acts. Regret\u00adtably, no tangible steps were taken by the Taliban government to ful\u00adfill its obligations in this regard.
\nAs they say, there is a limit to everything. The latest attack on a military checkpoint on March 16th in Mir Ali, North Waziristan, in which two officers and five sol\u00addiers of the Pakistan Army were martyred, proved to be the tipping point. Pakistan\u2019s planes struck at the hideout of the Hafiz Gul Ba\u00adhadar group inside Afghan terri\u00adtory along the Pak-Afghan border, killing eight terrorists. This group had claimed responsibility for the March 16th attack.
\nIt had to happen ultimately, and Pakistan is fully justified in retal\u00adiating and sending a strong mes\u00adsage that it would not tolerate any more attacks by the TTP terrorists operating from Afghan soil. Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and the security establishment have right\u00adly expressed unflinching resolve in this regard, at the same time re\u00aditerating the desire for peaceful coexistence. Reportedly, the Tal\u00adiban defense ministry said that its security forces targeted Paki\u00adstani troops along the border in response to the air strikes. This is indeed a very worrying situation.
\nThe spokesperson of the Minis\u00adtry of Foreign Affairs, while con\u00adfirming the attack in a statement issued by them, reminded the Tal\u00adiban government of its obligations and emphasized finding a joint solution to countering terrorism and preventing any terrorist or\u00adganization from sabotaging bilat\u00aderal relations with Afghanistan. The statement said that Pakistan fully realized the challenge Af\u00adghan authorities faced in combat\u00ading the threat posed by TTP, add\u00ading that terrorist groups like TTP were a collective threat to region\u00adal peace and security. The state\u00adment further said, \u201cPakistan has great respect for the people of Af\u00adghanistan. However, certain ele\u00adments among those in power in Afghanistan are actively patroniz\u00ading TTP and using them as a proxy against Pakistan. Such an ap\u00adproach against a brotherly coun\u00adtry, which stood with the people of Afghanistan through thick and thin, manifests shortsightedness. We urge these elements in power to rethink the policy of siding with Kharijite terrorists shedding the blood of innocent Pakistanis and to make a clear choice to stand with the people of Pakistan.\u201d
\nNobody in their right mind can take any exception to the contents of the statement. Pakistan, despite what has happened, wants good relations with Afghanistan and rightly feels that terrorism poses a threat to regional security and needs joint solutions to counter it.
\nIt is indeed very regrettable that the Taliban government in Kabul, being aware of the presence of TTP on its soil and their attacks across the border in Pakistan, is not pushed to fulfill its interna\u00adtional obligations not to allow any terrorist group to use Afghan soil for attacks against any oth\u00ader country. It was part of the deal with the US as well. There are also a number of international conven\u00adtions on the subject. The unabat\u00aded continuation of these attacks is surely putting a lot of strain on bi\u00adlateral relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan. The latest inci\u00addent has further exacerbated the situation in this regard.
\nIt is worth noting that Pakistan\u2019s special representative for Afghan\u00adistan, Asif Durrani, in an interview with a media outlet last November, said, \u201cAround 6,000-6,500 TTP terrorists were in Afghanistan. They are controlled by the Taliban and are allowed to cross the Paki\u00adstan border for sabotage activities in Pakistan. Taliban and TTP are two sides of the same coin.\u201d
\nIt is pertinent to mention that the Amir of the Taliban had issued a decree against these attacks and the participation of Afghan na\u00adtionals in them a few months ago. But despite this, there has been an unusual increase in the execu\u00adtion of terrorist attacks on securi\u00adty and law enforcement agencies in Pakistan. The question is: If the Taliban government really want\u00aded to halt these attacks, then why did they not take action against TTP for defying the decree of the Taliban Amir? Regrettably, the ground realities suggest a tacit connivance between the Taliban government and TTP. Why the Taliban government in Afghani\u00adstan is oblivious to its internation\u00adal obligations and clandestinely trying to foment instability in Pak\u00adistan is mind-boggling indeed.
\nPakistan is the country that supported the Taliban in their fight against the Northern Alli\u00adance, extended recognition to their government along with Saudi Arabia and UAE.
\nThe writer is a freelance columnist. He can be reached at ashpak10@gmail.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Malik M. Ashraf For quite some time, Paki\u00adstan has been enduring con\u00adtinued terrorist attacks on mosques, shrines, markets, law enforcement agencies, secu\u00adrity institutions, and mili\u00adtary checkpoints. Lately, the terrorists are focus\u00ading more on attacks on law enforcement agen\u00adcies and military check\u00adpoints, including Zhob and Chitral Garrisons. These attacks were carried out by TTP operatives based […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[3489],"class_list":{"0":"post-395680","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-article","7":"tag-malik-m-ashraf"},"yoast_head":"\n