Clashes at Chaman

Fahad Ali describes
unfortunate deterioration in relationship

The flare-up at Pak-Afghan border at Clashes at Chaman has brought to fore the simmering tensions between the Taliban regime holding reins of power in Afghanistan and Pakistan that have the potential to develop into something more sinister. It is now well-known that after taking charge of government affairs in Kabul the Taliban regime is gradually hardening its stance towards Pakistan and this unfortunate one-sided enmity is becoming manifest in multiple ways particularly in increase in the level of violence in the northern areas of Pakistan along with the belt in Balochistan that borders Afghanistan. This is a highly tenable situation that has put Pakistani policy makers in a quandary who were expecting brotherly relations with the Taliban regime in Kabul and many quarters associated with Pakistani leadership welcomed their takeover of Afghanistan. The aggressive intention exhibited by the ruling apparatus in Kabul has taken Pakistan by surprise and its official machinery is not only showing tremendous restraint but is also trying to work out the matters to mutual satisfaction.

In the recent violent spat the Afghan side opened indiscriminate fire on the town of Chaman resulting in civilian deaths and injuries. The violence sparked when Pakistani personnel were repairing a border fence and came under fire from the Afghan side and left with no option but to retaliate in kind. Though the Kabul regime conveyed apologies after the initial firing incident but firing incidents kept on taking place. It is reported that the latest incident is third of its kind as a clash in November resulted in the closure of the Chaman border crossing for nearly a week. In this context, it is conceded that border clashes between Pakistani and Afghan forces are not new as they also occurred during the tenures of Afghan government that held power during the US-led alliance’s sway in the country. This consistent tension was due to the fact that such governments were not very friendly with Pakistan but the Afghan Taliban’s rule was considered to be a good omen for Pakistan and it was believed that calm would return but these expectations proved quite misplaced.

It is noted with increasing concern that since the last few months there has been a marked increase in the exchange of fire between Pakistani and Afghani security forces resulting in frequent closure of the Chaman border, affecting trade and travel. The frequency of violent clashes has created a very volatile situation that has the potential to get out of control. It is pointed out that a major cause of tension has been the Taliban’s objection to Pakistan’s fencing of the border and last week’s exchange of fire started when Afghans tried to cut a part of the border fencing. While Chaman, which is the busiest transit trade route to Afghanistan, has been the major flashpoint, clashes have also been reported from other crossings in the former tribal districts. These incidents point to the increasingly confrontational ties between Pakistan and the Taliban regime. Pakistani policy makers rightfully perceive that the current behaviour of the Afghan Taliban is challenging Pakistan’s right to fence the Durand Line area as the Taliban have gone so far as to remove barriers at several points of the frontier.

It is quite obvious that Pakistani policy makers feel it incumbent on itself to deter illegal traffic and formalise the border and for doing that barricades are put up along the 2,400-kilometre-long frontier that had hitherto allowed easy movement for tribes settled both sides of the border and have enjoyed this cross-border movement for centuries. Like other Afghan governments in the past, the Taliban administration, too, does not recognise the Durand Line as a permanent border and this stance is ultimately aimed at opening frontiers for the Pakhtun tribesmen inhabiting the region. While it may be conceded to an extent that the tribesmen living on both sides of the border should be allowed free movement but the refusal to recognise the border is completely devoid of any sense and logic.

It is getting clearer by the day that Afghan Taliban regime is trying to push out its troubles to Pakistan as it thinks this to be a policy direction that can deflect attention from its problems. It has increased the level of intervention in Pakistan as has become evident from the rise in militancy in Pakistan. One recent example of this policy emerged when some terrorists held Pakistani police personnel at ransom in Bannu and asked for a safe passage to Afghanistan. Though Pakistani security forces were successful in eliminating the terrorists but the fact remains that the strong connections between terrorist elements and Kabul have become amply evident causing serious worries within the Pakistani policy makers. It may also be kept in mind that the escalation on the Chaman border has happened days after the attempt on the life of Pakistan’s envoy in Kabul. It is widely believed that this particular incident carried the mark of the TTP, which is closely aligned with the militant Islamic State group’s Khorasan chapter (IS-K) that claimed responsibility for the attack and it is known that it operates from Afghanistan.

Much more serious than the border escalation is the growing evidence that the Afghan Taliban are in cahoots with TTP in carrying out terrorist activities in Pakistan. It is for this reason that the Afghan Taliban’s increasingly aggressive stance cannot be seen in isolation as it is not just the border stand-off but also the militant sanctuaries in Afghanistan that have caused strains in relations between Islamabad and the Taliban regime. The situation has become highly volatile after the banned TTP called off its ceasefire with Pakistan and stepped up cross-border attacks on Pakistani security forces in the tribal districts. It is widely questioned whether Afghan Taliban’s overt patronage of the outlawed Pakistani militant network can be delinked with the mounting border tension. The continuing ideological connection of the Taliban regime with some transnational militant groups not only threatens regional security but also endangers Afghanistan’s own stability. The increasing terrorist violence in the country is the result of the Taliban’s reluctance to act against some foreign militant groups.

It is with considerable worry that Pakistani policy-makers note that Afghan Taliban’s regime staunchly refuse to sever its ideological links with groups such as the TTP, ETIM and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan that has provided a favourable environment to global terrorist groups to operate in. The troublesome alliance of Afghan-based militant groups presents a security threat to the entire region. In wake of the situation, Pakistan needs to review its policy on dealing with the Afghan Taliban regime in order to make its western border secure. It is important to engage with the Taliban administration but Islamabad must also take a firm position on the terrorist attacks stemming from Afghanistan. It is important to hold regular flag meetings with Afghani counterparts to sort out differences, and if matters go beyond that then higher diplomatic channels can be employed to defuse tensions. In case the violence continues unabated then it would advisable to resort to vigorous defensive action without any reservation. It appears that attempts to repair the damage has begun as it was reported that delegations from Pakistan and Afghanistan met on Tuesday to chalk out a strategy to avoid skirmishes between border security forces at the hub of trouble, Chaman-Spin Boldak border and during the exchange, officials from both sides agreed to resolve issues through engagement and committed to refrain from use of force. TW