Pakistan increasingly resorts to force against threats from Afghanistan — Dawn

Dawn argues that, after prolonged contacts with the Taliban authorities, Pakistan is increasingly resorting to force against threats that, according to Islamabad's position, originate from Afghanistan.

The author's position

According to the author, since 2021 Pakistan has repeatedly engaged with the Afghan side at the political, diplomatic, intelligence and military levels. The publication states that these contacts have not stopped the growing frequency and lethality of attacks that Pakistan links to groups on Afghan territory.

The author writes that Islamabad called on the Taliban authorities to fulfill the commitments made in Doha and prevent Afghan territory from being used by organizations operating against Pakistan. The article also claims that Taliban representatives acknowledged the presence of such groups during closed-door contacts, but publicly cited a lack of capacity and obligations under Pashtunwali.

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Pakistan's proposals

As settlement options, Pakistan, according to the author's account, proposed agreements on border management, increasing the volume of Afghan transit trade, and abandoning support for organizations seeking to introduce a radical interpretation of Sharia in Pakistan.

The article also notes that some political forces in Pakistan oppose the use of force and propose continuing engagement with Kabul. The author believes that Islamabad should maintain consistency in its security policy while not closing off opportunities for direct, bilateral or indirect negotiations.

In the author's view, Afghanistan's future will depend on whether the Taliban can move from the logic of an armed movement to governing the state, focused on peace, stability, economic integration and constructive relations with its neighbors.