THE growing relations between Kabul and Delhi are certainly a cause for concern for Pakistan. In 2021, when the Taliban interim government was established, the general belief was that since the Afghan Taliban were well aware of the relations between the Indian-backed Hamid Karzai and Ashraf Ghani governments, Afghanistan and India would have tense relations. However, the situation has taken an opposite turn, with Afghanistan and India growing closer to each other. Indian analysts are highlighting this development as a successful foreign policy and a regional strategic success.
These developments suggest that the warming of Afghanistan-India relations, particularly its anti-Pakistan aspect, is not mere speculation but will have an impact on regional affairs in the coming days. As the shared interests of both countries, particularly in supporting extremist factions, are becoming evident, it is clear that Pakistan’s assumption that the leadership in Afghanistan, which took power in the name of enforcing Shariah, would prioritize friendly relations with Pakistan over India was mistaken.
Pakistan faces security challenges from both its eastern and western borders. Over the past three years, these security challenges have increased. The areas bordering Afghanistan have become havens for terrorists. In these areas, extremist elements have been kidnapping security personnel and civilians for some time now. The wave of terrorism in Pakistan began after the US-led aggression against Afghanistan under the banner of the war on terror which gradually escalated in both intensity and scale. There was a time when Pakistan was facing a multifaceted assault from terrorists as though it were a country at war. To the west, Pakistan shares a long border with Afghanistan and in this entire border region, from north to south, a dangerous wave of terrorism has been ignited.
The US-led foreign forces had control over Afghanistan and Afghan puppets under US patronage aligned with India’s adversaries, providing Indian agencies with open support and using their land for conspiratorial actions against Pakistan. As a result, insurgencies spread from the tribal areas to Balochistan. After the withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan, the people of Pakistan had hoped that, with Afghanistan freed from foreign interventions and the restoration of Afghan sovereignty, peace would prevail and the impact of this stability would also be felt in Pakistan.
The fire of insecurity and terrorism, which had been fuelled by the war and chaos in Afghanistan, would be extinguished for the Pakistani people. However, contrary to expectations, after the new government in Afghanistan came to power, attacks and terrorist incidents have accelerated.
During the US occupation, these attackers received full support from Afghan forces. Unfortunately, after the new government took over, instead of eliminating these safe havens for terrorists in Afghanistan, they were given the freedom to operate. Pakistan repeatedly drew the attention of the new Afghan Administration to this issue, but to no avail.
As in the past, Afghanistan remains a sanctuary for those who have taken up arms against Pakistan. Afghanistan is sending armed groups ready to fight and die against Pakistan, while Pakistan has always advocated for a stable Afghanistan and made efforts toward this end.
In response, if Afghanistan is tilting towards India, then Pakistan must also develop a strategy to counter this alliance in the coming days.
—The writer is contributing columnist, based in Faisalabad.
