Tensions rising with
Afghanistan

The upsurge in terrorist activities originating from Afghanistan has dealt a mortal blow to the designed narrative of some influential official circles that supported the Taliban endeavours throughout the years and celebrated the Taliban-led takeover of Kabul. This narrative completely drowned out the skeptical point of view that actually questioned the reason given for participating in a foreign war in terror and consistently maintained that it was not Pakistan’s war. Such circles always held that the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and the TTP were actually two faces of the same coin and both would act in unison in future. Now Pakistan’s open and blunt condemnation of Afghani complicity is a clear indication that Pakistani policy makers are changing their perception that may ultimately prove good for Pakistan.
By the looks of it Kabul would not pay much heed to Pakistan’s warnings despite the fact that the Pakistani intention is more than obvious. It appears that Pakistan is going to use all available diplomatic and economic resources at its disposal to make it absolutely plain to Kabul that it cannot get away with allowing Afghanistan’s territory to be used by militants to spread terrorism in the region. It also appears that Pakistan may increase the pressure on the Afghan Taliban and the current Kabul regime will be made to realise that they cannot absolve themselves of the responsibility of the attacks by asking Islamabad to engage with the Pakistani militants based in Afghanistan.
It is reported that Pakistan and Afghanistan had been engaged for the past several months through institutional channels for effective coordination and security along our long shared border. It was mentioned that elements of banned terrorist groups in the border region, including proscribed TTP, have continued to attack Pakistan’s border security posts, resulting in the martyrdom of several Pakistani troops. At least seven Pakistan Army soldiers lost their lives in the North Waziristan district by terrorists operating from Afghanistan last week. Also Pakistan reported that terrorists ambushed a military convoy near the Pak-Afghan border in the general area of Isham, North Waziristan District, taking the lives of seven Pakistani security men. Pakistan has long been saying that the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan has been using Afghan soil for attacks on Pakistani border posts. Seven Pakistani Army personnel were killed in a terrorist attack on an army convoy in North Waziristan of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. Another soldier was killed in another attack.
It is now being claimed that Pakistan has conducted an air strike on Afghanistan to avenge this attack and bombed Kunar, Khost and Chogum and Pecha Mela in Afghanistan. The Kunar and Khost provinces of Afghanistan are located near the Pakistan border. It was reported that heavy shelling is still going on and it seems that Pakistan Army is conducting operations against TTP terrorist bases in Afghanistan. Tensions have already increased on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border as it was reported that the Taliban are mobilising additional forces against the Pakistani army in Khost and Kunar and TTP fighters are also involved in the fight. The TTP also claimed a midnight attack on a Pakistani military base in Bajaur. These reported are not confirmed by official Pakistani circles.
At least six people were killed and 11 wounded by two bomb blasts at a boys’ school in the Afghan capital, with social media showing grisly images from the Hazara Shi’ite neighbourhood. It was reported that the blasts at the Abdul Rahim Shahid School were caused by improvised explosive devices. It was also reported that a third blast had occurred at an English language centre in the same area but did not specify whether it was caused by an explosive. The police spokesman had earlier tweeted that three blasts had rocked the school, which is in an area mainly inhabited by the Hazara community and has been previously targeted by the Islamic State group. These blasts occurred as students were coming out of their morning classes at the school and grisly images posted on social media networks showed several bodies lying at the gate and compound of the school.
Images showed patches of blood, burnt books and school bags scattered at the premises. Taliban fighters were seen cordoning off the area. Victims were taken to hospital but Taliban fighters kept journalists from the premises. Meanwhile, Pakistan has strongly condemned the terrorist attacks in Kabul resulting in the deaths of precious lives and injuries to several others. The official statement stated that Pakistan strongly condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and that Pakistan stands with its Afghan brothers in this moment of sorrow. It was stressed that it was important that Afghanistan and the international community engaged in close cooperation against the scourge of terrorism.
Attacks on public targets have largely diminished since the Taliban seized power in August last year, but IS continues to operate across the country. The Taliban have also been blamed previously for attacks targeting the Hazara community, who make up between 10 to 20 per cent of the country’s 38 million population. Taliban officials insist their forces have defeated IS, but analysts say the group is a key security challenge to the hardline Islamists who now rule Afghanistan. Since seizing power the Taliban have regularly carried out raids on suspected IS hideouts, mainly in the eastern Nangarhar province. Islamic State is reported to be involved in deadliest attack in Afghanistan in recent years. TW

Fahad Ali is associated with maritime trade