The country’s military leadership has briefed three parliamentary committees on internal and external security challenges. The idea was to create a national consensus on policies towards Afghanistan and India. Normally exercises at consensus building are undertaken by elected Prime Ministers On account of the ruling party leadership’s scornful attitude towards the opposition, Prime Minister Imran Khan has made himself unfit to lead any attempt to build national consensus even when one is badly required by circumstances.
The hasty and disorderly withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan has led to uncertain conditions in the country. More uncertainties are being caused by the Taliban’s behavour. More than two weeks after their capture of Kabul, the Taliban have not been able to form the government. What the world expects is an inclusive administration with moderate policies that include acknowledging girls’ right of education and women’s right of employment. The Taliban need the defreezing of their funds in the USA and resumption of the World Bank and IMF programmes along with financial support from the world to be able to run the government. Much will depend on whether the Taliban take measures to gain international legitimacy and acceptance or revert to their harsh and primitive style of governance, as practiced under Mullah Omar.
The devastating suicide attack on Kabul airport and the subsequent rocket attacks show that the IS is alive and kicking in Pakistan’s neighbourhood country. The TTP, which has its eyes fixed on Pakistan’s tribal districts, is also present in Afghanistan. So are Baloch separatists who are supposed to be operating from Afghanistan. India’s RAW has also invested a lot in the terrorist networks to detabilise Pakistan. The situation is highly worrisome.
The COAS assured the parliamentarians that Pakistan’s borders are secure and armed forces prepared to meet any situation. The terrorist attacks have no doubt become less frequent compared to a decade before. The terrorists however still continue to target security personnel in tribal districts and Balochistan, and Chinese engineers and workers wherever they can, to delay the CPEC projects and create misunderstandings between China and Pakistan. This means Pakistan has to further improve the working of its security agencies and upgrade and modernise its investigation network.
