Attacks on Pakistan
PESHAWAR: On Wednesday, Hafiz Mohibullah Shakir, the acting consul general at the Afghan Consulate in Peshawar, revealed that the Taliban administration had issued a fatwa declaring that launching attacks in Pakistan did not constitute “jihad” or holy war. He also noted that Afghanistan’s defense ministry had made it clear that attacks on Pakistan were not considered jihad.
The Pakistani government has consistently emphasized that the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists find safe havens in Afghanistan and use Afghan soil for attacks on Pakistan.
Since the Afghan Taliban assumed control of the government in 2021, Pakistan has witnessed a surge in terror incidents, making 2023 the deadliest year in eight years. Pakistani officials have pointed out the involvement of Afghan nationals in attacks on security forces.
Asif Durrani, Pakistan’s special representative on Afghanistan, highlighted the increased TTP attacks along the border and their use of Afghan territory as a base. In response to Pakistan’s calls for action, the interim Afghan authorities reportedly arrested 200 suspected militants involved in attacks against Pakistan.
Interim Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani and his Taliban counterpart, Amir Khan Muttaqi, met at a China-hosted international conference earlier in the month. During the meeting, Jilani emphasized the need to address challenges to regional peace and stability through collaborative efforts and collective strategies.
Hafiz Mohibullah Shakir stated that TTP militants had migrated to Afghanistan during the tenure of the former US-backed Afghan president Ashraf Ghani (2014-2021), who was overthrown by the Taliban. Shakir emphatically asserted, “I want to make it clear: No attacks will be launched from Afghanistan on Pakistan.”
Taliban Decree and Refugee Situation
The government in Islamabad has issued an order for illegal Afghan refugees in Pakistan to leave the country by November 1, with just five days remaining until the deadline. Millions of Afghans are currently residing in Pakistan.
The acting Afghan consul general expressed no objections to the decision but emphasized the need for an appropriate method for their repatriation. He suggested that Afghan refugees should be granted time to wrap up their affairs in Pakistan and mentioned that arrangements have been made for their return to Afghanistan.
The caretaker government had previously directed all “aliens,” including 1.73 million Afghan nationals, to leave the country in response to a series of terrorist attacks, with Afghan nationals responsible for 14 out of 24 suicide bombings. The United Nations (UN) has called for the voluntary exit of refugees from Pakistan, emphasizing that no pressure should be exerted on them.
Since the Soviet Union’s invasion in 1979, Pakistan has hosted millions of Afghan refugees. The United States has also strongly encouraged Afghanistan’s neighboring countries, including Pakistan, to admit Afghans seeking protection and uphold their obligations in the treatment of refugees, as stated by the US State Department last week.
