There are confirmed reports that on 9 and 10 December, a delegation of local tribal elders of District Gomal and Wurmamy met Governor Paktika Faiz ullah Jamal to discuss issues faced by locals due to frequent move of TTP in their districts. They pointed out that TTP members visit their homes frequently demanding extortion money and demanded strict actions against TTP in response to their transgressions.
Afghanistan has recently transformed itself into a focal point for concerns emanating from the activities of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), transcending borders and posing a threat not only to Pakistan but also to the local populace in Afghanistan. The IAG’s relative half-hearted actions against TTP either out of sympathy or limited capability are not only aggravating predicament of local Afghanis but are also forcing Pakistan to tighten controls on border management mechanism.
As Pakistan Army has accelerated anti-terrorist operations and the security forces in Pakistan are tightening the noose around TTP and its affiliates, its members have started acquiring breathing space in Afghanistan, mostly in bordering provinces. But this acquisition of space is not in vacuum rather it is at expense of exploitation of local population. The group, facing financial constraints due to effective measures of Pakistan’s Government against narcotics trade, smuggling, extortions and abductions has resorted to abduction and extortion of locals in Afghan provinces such as Kunar, Nangarhar, and Paktika. The repercussions for those unable to comply with these demands are dire, with reports of kidnappings and killings as a consequence.
Naseema Jan, a twelve-year-old girl hailing from Sarobi district of Paktika Province laments the moment when TTP terrorists entered her mud-brick house and demanded money. “Give us everything you have”, they shouted. Failing to comply to their demands, they left the house in rage but not before killing her father right before her eyes.
It is pertinent to mention that locals’ demand to take strict action against TTP is not just in response to their extortion and abduction forays. Rather, these are better health, education and business opportunities they avail in Pakistan, which will be hampered if TTP conundrum pursues for a long time. Torn by war for almost two decades, hospitals and schools in Afghanistan are in a deplorable state. Many of the patients of bordering provinces prefer Peshawar than Kabul to pursue medical treatment. As per reports, almost 100,000 Afghanis are treated in Pakistani hospitals every year. In this scenario, local Afghans are asking,” Why to make such an obliging neighbor an enemy, when there is much to gain from friendship?”
There is also a prevailing fear among local populace that any engagement by Pakistan’s security forces against TTP hideouts will further worsen the situation. The increase in cross-borders attacks can put Army under immense public pressure to operate trans-frontier, which will definitely result in further deterioration of already tense relations. Concomitantly, if the situation aggravates, civilians in both Afghanistan and Pakistan are likely to become inadvertent targets of retaliatory attacks.
If we look from Pakistan’s perspective, the Government’s decision to tighten border controls is quite justified, keeping in view the perils countenanced by comparative lenient border management mechanism. Despite claims by the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) that actions have been taken against TTP members within its borders, the group’s freedom to operate has compelled Pakistan to scrutinize those crossing the border under the guise of medical facilitations or business activities. Several instances have revealed that individuals posing as ordinary Afghan citizens or businessmen were, in fact, involved in orchestrating terror activities in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The confirmation of terrorists of Afghan origin orchestrating deadly attacks in Pakistani territories, including D.I. Khan, Chitral, Bannu, Khyber, and Bajaur, underscores the cross-border menace posed by TTP.
In light of the prevailing challenges emanating from Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan’s (TTP) activities in Afghanistan, it becomes imperative for the Interim Afghan Government to heed the sentiments and aspirations of its people. Recognizing the adverse impact of TTP’s operations on both Afghanistan and Pakistan, the Interim Afghan Government must consider taking decisive actions that align with the collective welfare of the region. A proactive stance, aligned with the wishes of the Afghan populace, would not only foster stability within Afghanistan but also contribute to improved relations with Pakistan. By addressing the concerns raised by local Afghans regarding TTP’s infiltration, extortion, and terror activities, the Interim Afghan Government has the potential to mitigate cross-border tensions, paving the way for enhanced collaboration between the two nations. Such coordinated efforts would not only safeguard the security interests of both countries but also contribute to the broader stability of the region.
