ISLAMABAD: Due to Islamabad’s strong reaction to recent cross-border strikes, the Afghan Taliban-led interim government has started efforts to move terrorist organisations away from Pakistan-Afghan border regions.
In the wake of a recent string of cross-border terrorist strikes, Pakistan signalled to the Afghan Taliban in explicit words that they must take action against terrorist groups or face the consequences.
For their part, the Taliban have responded to Pakistan’s strong message by persuading the TTP and its affiliates, who have been outlawed, to move away from border territories and settle elsewhere in Afghanistan.
A top Pakistani official who works with the problem said, “Some of the groups have already been transferred out of the border regions.” They sought his anonymity on account of the subject.
Pakistan accepts the Taliban’s resolve to at least put an immediate stop to cross-border terrorist strikes, according to a Pakistani official.
“It is clear to us that these groups must be eradicated or dealt with in a way that they never pose a threat to us again,” the official said.
Terrorist strikes over the border have increased recently, with many Pakistani troops choosing death over life.
Three Pakistani troops have also killed on Saturday when militants from across the border launched an attack in the North Waziristan province. The same terrorist strike killed seven Pakistani soldiers on April 14.
Pakistan is said to have conducted airstrikes in Afghanistan’s Kunar and Khost regions after that incident to remove terrorist hideouts.
An even stronger condemnation of the cross-border terrorist assaults was made by the foreign office as well.
Terrorists were alleged to be operating freely on Afghan land, according to the harshly worded statement, which encouraged the Afghan Taliban to take firm action against them. Pakistan believed that the Taliban’s return to power would lead to an end to these terrorist organisations. Officials claim that despite assurances, the Taliban have yet to fulfil its commitments.
“It just makes their (the Taliban’s) argument troublesome in terms of recognition,” the diplomat remarked, mincing no words.
Recently, Pakistan has become more irritated by the Taliban’s refusal to put an end to the TTP and other terrorist organisations.
The Taliban are reluctant to take action against these organisations since they fought alongside them in the fight against the US-led foreign troops and share the same ideological beliefs.
Despite this, officials are concerned that the Taliban administration, which desperately needs international credibility and backing to restore the economy, may suffer as a result.
Works at The Truth International Magazine. My area of interest includes international relations, peace & conflict studies, qualitative & quantitative research in social sciences, and world politics. Reach@ aimen.bukhari@tti.org.pk
