EDITORIAL: Pakistan has made it very clear, and rightly so, that it does not want any sort of escalation in the ongoing standoff with Afghanistan; definitely not an “armed conflict”, in the words of Defence Minister Khwaja Asif. Hence the Foreign Office’s clear statement about “Pakistan’s desire to address the issue of terrorism with Afghanistan through dialogue and cooperation”.

Let’s not forget that it was to settle the TTP business peacefully that Islamabad got the Taliban to promise to sort out those terrorists ahead of US withdrawal talks in Doha, which would not have been possible, at least would not have been fruitful, without Pakistan’s efforts. And it was only after repeatedly reminding Kabul of its commitment, even as TTP went ahead with re-launching its insurgency and killing Pakistanis every other day, and then warning of “decisive action” inside Afghanistan, which went completely unheeded, that Pakistan finally put its foot down and took out insurgent sanctuaries across the Durand Line.

But Islamabad’s calls for restraint don’t seem to be working because, as the latest attack in DI Khan that killed two soldiers and wounded at least 22 proves, the insurgency goes on. This is precisely why the Foreign Office spokesperson avoided ruling out the possibility of future strikes.

Pakistan asks for only one thing in return for recognising the Taliban government, giving them aid whenever they need it, not to mention their only window to the international community, and things like trade with India, etc., and that is to degrade and dismantle the TTP network on its side.

One reason they don’t listen is the still open, hostile front with IS-Khorasan, and the fear that any action against TTP fighters might either make them jump to the other side or retaliate, both of which are uncomfortable possibilities for them. But that still, in no way, justifies the carte blanche to TTP; at least not from Pakistan’s point of view.

It is unfortunate that the Taliban have still not figured out the difference between (re)taking a country and running one; especially as far as its people are concerned. They are already deprived of some of the most basic human rights. That they are subject to savage international isolation just because of the Taliban’s stubbornness in refusing to accept certain basic, global norms is a fact.

Nobody wants war, especially a country that has put 80,000 innocent souls in early graves, but the government of Pakistan has done the right thing by drawing a line and then acting once it was crossed so callously for so long.

That is not going to be the end of it, of course, so the need for vigilance inside our own borders has never been greater. News reports suggest that the forces, already on high alert, are up to the task since a lot of the latest attacks have been successfully repulsed.

This stage of this exercise is still painful, but it is crucial. The only way forward for this country and its people is for those in charge to take the rot out and close this wound once and for all.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024