WASHINGTON: Pakistan has been identified as the nation that has been hurt the most by the Taliban government in Afghanistan, according to a research article published by The Diplomat, an international journal.
When the Taliban regained control over Afghanistan in 2021, Pakistan considered the development as an opportunity for regional stability and thus corresponding with heavy and strong diplomatic and humanitarian support to the Taliban government. Ironically, the result was the opposite of what was anticipated and Pakistan’s internal security situation fell considerably.
According to The Diplomat, a new wave of terror started in Pakistan along with the Taliban’s takeover. Even though they live side by side with the Taliban, radical organizations such as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Al-Qaeda, and Islamic State Khorasan (IS-K) still see their presence in the area.
Moreover, the journal pointed out that the territory of Afghanistan is still a launching pad for the movement of militants across Pakistan’s borders where the TTP is reportedly the main perpetrator of most of the terror incidents.The report also added that up to 70 percent of the terror incidents in Pakistan involves Afghans.
Another point the report made was that India had revived its diplomatic presence in Kabul and opened up more communication with the Taliban which the journal pointed out as a potential security problem for Pakistan. Furthermore, the paper mentioned that Pakistan has paid the price of more than 80,000 lives in the fight against terrorism.
The journal said that through UAE mediation, a deal was made for the transportation of TTP fighters from border areas. However, the Taliban, in spite of their promises, did not intervene against the group.
According to the journal, Pakistan, after the unmet commitments, applied a new method of dialogue together with limited military action. It also mentioned that in September and October of the same year, Pakistan conducted targeted strikes against TTP bases in Afghanistan while keeping the diplomatic communication open.
The Diplomat acknowledged that amidst the increased tensions, Pakistan did not entirely resort to cutting off relations, where Turkey and Qatar kept on building up their mediating roles between Islamabad and the Taliban authorities.
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