Pakistan-Afghanistan conflict: Time to talk

The long-simmering conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan that burst into a full-fledged war last month shows no likelihood of ending any day too soon. It owes itself to Pakistani establishment’s deep suspicion of militant organisation Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) drawing its inspiration and wherewithal from Taliban government in Kabul. TTP has been behind several bombings, targeted killings, attacks on business interests of leading Armymen in the country and other acts of violence in Pakistan.

The killing of high profile men in Pakistan’s Army intelligence forced the hands of the Pak armed forces to wage a full-scale war against the Taliban regime. TTP is an increasingly centralised coalition of Pakistan militant groups who pursue the goal of setting up a Taliban style government in Pakistan and bring in laws stipulated by through most antiquated version of sharia. While Pakistan was itself instrumental in nurturing the Taliban during the 1990s against the Soviet Union and still later against the US Armed Forces, the latters have now turned tormentors against the Pak establishment itself.

Pakistan has even accused the Kabul’s Taliban regime of providing it a safe haven beyond the Durand Line that demarcates the border between the two countries. The Kabul regime however denies it. But ideological similarities only confirm the doubts of the TTP being a handmaiden of the Taliban. Mediation efforts by Qatar, Russia and China have borne no fruits so far. China and Russia have high stakes in the two warring neighbours patching up their differences.

China is investing around $65 billion in the China-Pakistan Economic corridor (C-PEC) whereas Russia has entered into new ties with Pakistan. The conflict is also fuelled by Afghanistan’s continued refusal to recognised Durand Line which they perceive to be fragmenting the ethnic bonds among the Pashtuns who straddle along the borders. Pakistan will need to explore other routes to bring the Taliban to the negotiating table as they are less likely to be bombed into silence and agreement.