Indian Defence Review

At the recent NATO summit in Warsaw, President Ashraf Ghani in his address categorically stated that peace initiatives taken by Afghanistan with Pakistan are not successful as Pakistan differentiates between good and bad terrorists in practice, adding, “Our regional initiatives with neighbours are beginning to yield significant cooperative dividends. However, the exception is with Pakistan.”

There have been occasions in the past when President Ghani expressed exasperation against Pakistan post numerous terrorist attacks engineered by Pakistan in his country, but this speech had special significance since he spoke at the NATO summit in presence of US President Obama. He pointedly stated that despite clear commitments to the quadrilateral peace process, “Pakistan’s dangerous distinction between good and bad terrorists is being maintained in practice.”

This was a clear indictment of Pakistan, sadly when Ghani right from the time of becoming President of Afghanistan on 29 September 2014 went all out to embrace Pakistan in friendship, even breaking protocol and driving to the Pakistani army chief’s office in Islamabad to meet him personally during his first visit to Pakistan.  Despite former President Hamid Karzai’s disappointing experience with Pakistan, Ghani had tried to turn a new leaf. However, after almost two years of his tenure, his missive on Pakistan at the NATO summit appears final.

The Pakistani foreign office was quick to react in saying President Ashraf Ghani’s remarks at the NATO summit were disappointing and a continuation of Afghan government’s policy of blaming Pakistan for its failures, the Pakistani spokesperson adding,  “It is unfortunate that Afghan leaders continue to make hostile statements against Pakistan and blame Pakistan for all failures in Afghanistan”.

Pakistan’s state policy of terrorism is well known, as is her policy of blatant denial after every sponsored terror strike. So it was humorous for the Pakistani spokesman to say that Pakistan will continue to make every effort to help bring peace in Afghanistan as peace in the neighbouring country is in Pakistan’s interest – not one Afghan would believe this.

The spokesman went on to add that Pakistan also expects cooperation from Afghan government in its fight against terrorism through effective border management and denying sanctuaries to anti-Pakistan terrorists from Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). This, despite the recent clash at Torkham and the fact that the Afghan Taliban and the TTP have coalesced (as acknowledged by US intelligence) with the Haqqanis as the binding force, latter based in Pakistan and the protégé of the ISI.

Interestingly, President Ghani was of the view that the recent terrorist attack near the Mosque of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) in Madina has outraged the Muslim community and “should result in a consensus against the minority which is attempting to hijack our civilization”. Significantly, 12 Pakistanis were part of the terror attacks in Saudi Arabia and then numerous mosque attacks have taken place within Pakistan, even if these belong to the Shia community. So, attacking mosques is no big deal in Pakistan and as for world opinion, there is scant regard as well.

If Pakistan had any doubts about President Ghani’s missive to her during the NATO summit, Ghani reinforced it at a press conference at Kabul on return from Poland. His remarks-cum-demand included: Pakistan handover Afghan militants based in Pakistan and those who are opposing peace talks with the Afghan government; message of Afghanistan to Pakistan is specific and positive and those differentiating between good and bad terrorism should pay the price, and; neighboring countries of Afghanistan should respect the sovereignty of Afghanistan and not allow insurgent groups to use their soil.

Ghani further said, “The key problem among our neighboring states is an absence of agreed rules of the game, thus we seek regional and global support in creating those rules, which will bind us to collective security and harmony.” There has been no response from Pakistan but Ghani’s reiteration would have fallen on deaf years anyway or at best the response would have similar to post Ghani’s address at Warsaw. Pakistan’s military-ISI perceive themselves in smug position being the nerve centre controlling the coalesced Taliban and Haqqanis, interlinking of Taliban, Al Qaeda-Haqqanis-AQIS, TTP support to ISIS, Al Qaeda allegiance to Afghan Taliban, Haqqani network in top echelons in Afghan Taliban, ISI supported by Pakistani regulars heading the Khorasan chapter of ISIS in Afghanistan and the like.

An interesting development is the hearing titled ‘Pakistan: Friend or Foe in the Fight Against Terrorism?’ has been jointly convened by the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Non-Proliferation and Trade and Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and is scheduled to be held shortly. The decision was egged on by President Ghani’s address at the NATO summit and arrest of 12 Pakistani national by Saudi Arabia for terrorist attacks during Ramzan.

Ahead of the congressional hearing,  Zalmay  Khalilzad, former US Ambassador to Afghanistan and Iraq has made a strong statement to the House Foreign Affairs Committee ahead of a Congressional hearing that included amongst other things: “Pakistani policy is the principal cause of the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan. More broadly, Pakistan’s use of extremist and terrorist proxies, including threatening India, is significant contributor to the global menace of Islamic extremism, which must be confronted if we are to succeed in defeating terrorism and extremism around the world; posing as US partner, Pakistan supports Taliban and the al-Qaeda-linked Haqqani network; since 2005, Taliban and Haqqani network have regrouped in Pakistan and waged a devastating insurgency against the US and Afghan forces; Pakistan views the Taliban as an effective proxy to ensure Pakistani dominance over Afghanistan; Islamabad believes continuing the war in Afghanistan will lead to US withdrawal which would change the balance of power against the current government and in favour of its(Pakistan’s) proxies. Ultimately, Pakistan seeks the overthrow of the current government in Afghanistan because it is not compliant, and; Pakistan knows its double-game is risky, but it believes that the risk is manageable.

The just concluded hearing titled ‘Pakistan: Friend or Foe in the Fight Against Terrorism?’ has been jointly convened by the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Non-Proliferation and Trade and Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific of the House Foreign Affairs Committee has severely indicted Pakistan and endorsed above recommendations made by Zalmay Khalilzad to impose financial sanctions on Pakistan including financial and travel restrictions on senior Pakistani officials known to be complicit in the insurgency, and freeze funds in US banks belonging to Pakistani entities, both military and corporate, involved in financing the Taliban.

But the question remains will this rein in Pakistan with China backing her full hilt? Appears, such sanctions will be peripheral and of little effect considering the defiant stance of North Korea despite sanctions, of course with full Chinese backing to her.