Pakistan has been most affected country due to US-led war against terror. It has supported the US in combating terrorism in Afghanistan. The country paid a heavy cost in Afghan war as around 70, 000 causalities happened in the last two decades. Pakistan’s contributions to Afghan peace process are highly appreciated worldwide. Pakistan has tried to formulate/ facilitate negotiations between all stakeholders. Now, Pakistan expects the international community to play its due share in bringing peace and stability in a post-Taliban Afghanistan. The peace in Afghanistan is only way to compensate for Pakistan’s loss in WoT.
Due to US operations against terrorism in Afghanistan, Pakistan faced the spill-over effect of extremism. The uncertainty in Afghanistan as the outcome of 9/11 attacks and its regional implications had very negative consequences, for the years following the US invasion of Afghanistan. It witnessed a sudden spike in the frequency and scale of terrorist attacks across Pakistan. In reaction, Pakistan military had to undergo various operations against terrorism like Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Zalzala, Rah-e-Haq, and Rah-e-Rast, Operation Rah-e-Nijat, Zarb-e-Azb, and Radd-ul-Fasaad.
Pakistan’s economy was obliterated by WoT leading to erosion of socio-economic fabrics and loss of millions of jobs. Pakistan lost around 150 billion USD – the money Pakistan had to spend on the education, health, and development sector. The burden of 4 million Afghan refugees who have lived in Pakistan for more than 35 years and crossed over from Afghanistan to flee the Soviet invasion has also created a vacuum in Pakistani economy. PM Imran Khan’s long-lasting stand on Afghan issue that the issue can be solved through dialogue has been acknowledged worldwide. Afghans have never accepted Russia, US, or any other invader and considered them as an “Occupier”. Previously, Pakistan was always asked to “Do more”, while for the first time in history, PM Imran Khan stood against US with a “No more & Absolutely Not” stance.
In past, when US needed Pakistan in the Cold War, Taliban were termed as freedom fighters but when they stood against US, they become terrorists. Now again the status of Taliban is getting changed in the eyes of US. The US always tried to scapegoat Pakistan for all its failures. The successive puppet govts in Afghanistan backed by US were deeply sunk in corruption with no legitimacy and public support. The case of Pakistan with regards to Afghanistan has been effectively highlighted by Pakistan’s Civil-Military leadership.
On the other side, India in an effort to stay relevant in Afghanistan, cultivated deep relations with the ousted Ashraf Ghani’s govt but now Taliban’s return to power is a major setback for them. In present situation, India has become region’s “most disadvantaged” player. The assets and investment of India in Afghanistan were above $3 bn including the construction of Parliament building (90 million USD), scholarships to Afghan students, infrastructures like roads, colleges, and hospitals. But, Indian assets and investments in Afghanistan are endangered as it has lost its position from being Kabul’s closest regional partner to one of the region’s most disadvantaged players. Even Indian policy circles are now seeing Taliban takeover as their strategic defeat. It is now realized by India that they have to reach out to Taliban in any case. India is struggling hard to enable Taliban to become independent and their close ties with Pakistan may get damaged through Indian fake propaganda.
India is concerned that Taliban’s stance on Kashmir is very close to Pakistan’s and in the future, both sides can make a joint alliance against India in which China may also stand with Pakistan. It is also a fact that Taliban will keep themselves in touch with India as a routine neighbor but practically India will remain outside the game. Previously, India was not given any space by the stakeholders in Afghanistan reconciliation process. In the past, India has used Afghan soil to spread terrorism inside Pakistan already exposed at the forum of UN.
Now after the takeover of Afghanistan by Taliban, India had few genuine issues like Afghanistan is a land-locked country, and the quickest way to get from India to Afghanistan by air is through territories controlled by Pakistan and China. India will try that Taliban interact with India beyond Pakistan’s influence. It is a matter of grave concern for Taliban leaders to assure the world that Afghan soil will not be used for terrorism in any country. Regional players are perceiving Taliban as their strategic partner in the region, however, If India succeeds in making healthy ties with Taliban, it will create serious repercussions for Pakistan’s foreign policy.
