Army's top brass takes serious notice of cross-border firing from Afghanistan

The Pakistan Army's top brass on Tuesday took serious notice of the recent cross-border firing incidents from Afghanistan, asking Kabul to take effective border control measures, the military's media wing said. The concern was expressed during the 241st Corps Commanders Conference chaired by Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa at the GHQ. The commanders undertook a comprehensive review of the global, regional and domestic security environment with particular focus on the situation along the borders especially the Line of Control/Working Boundary and Pak-Afghan border, an Inter-Services Public Relations statement said.

While reviewing recent developments in the Afghan peace process and its attendant effects on the security situation, especially along the Pak-Afghan border, the forum "reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for regional peace and stability". Taking serious note of the recent cross-border firing incidents emanating from Afghanistan and regrouping of terrorist leadership and outfits across the border, the meeting expressed the hope that Afghanistan's soil "will not be used against Pakistan". "In light of emerging regional security situation, Pakistan has taken effective border management measures and the same is expected from Afghanistan to deny any space to spoilers of peace," the forum stressed. The meeting was apprised of the evolving operational imperatives and corresponding strategy to meet upcoming challenges. Gen Bajwa "expressed satisfaction over Army’s operational readiness in view of the emerging security threats," the ISPR said. The commanders' review comes three days after a Pakistani soldier was martyred in an exchange of fire with Afghanistan-based terrorists in North Waziristan tribal district. Pakistan has consistently asked Afghanistan to ensure effective management and control on its side of the Pakistan-Afghan border. Such attacks are common as earlier in the second week of May, a soldier was injured after militants opened fire from across the Afghan border on a military check-post in the Bajaur district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The top military brass also reviewed the situation in newly merged districts of KP and Balochistan and stressed upon "fast-paced socio-economic development of these areas to capitalise on the hard-earned peace to bring an enduring stability", according to the statement. During the meeting, the army chief appreciated the formations for all-out support to the civil administration during the ongoing third wave of Covid-19 which he said had "contributed in bringing significant reduction in spread of the pandemic and controlling its adverse effects".

Meanwhile, US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin called Chief of Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa for the second time in three weeks.

“I reiterated my appreciation for the US-Pakistan relationship and my desire to continue to work together to further regional security and stability,” Austin tweeted on Tuesday.

A Pentagon statement echoed Austin’s words, saying “Secretary Austin reiterated his appreciation for Pakistan’s support for Afghanistan Peace Negotiations and expressed his desire to continue to build on the US – Pakistan bilateral relationship.”

The two leaders also discussed “regional dynamics and our shared interest in security and stability in the region.”

Meanwhile, the US Central Command said on Tuesday that the withdrawal from Afghanistan is going according to schedule and that the military has completed up to 20 percent of its pullout from America’s longest war.

The Biden administration has set September 11 as the deadline to complete its troop withdrawal from Afghanistan and is increasing security coordination with Islamabad as it plans its post-withdrawal posture in the region.

The US is intensifying outreach to Pakistan as it moves to complete its troop withdrawal from Afghanistan by September. The White House announced on Monday last that National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan had met his Pakistani counterpart, Moeed Yusuf, at the weekend.

The Sullivan-Yusuf meeting is the most senior in-person encounter between Washington and Islamabad since US President Joe Biden came into office in January. The two met in Geneva and “discussed a range of bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest and discussed ways to advance practical co-operation. Both sides agreed to continue the conversation,” the White House said.

Last week, David Helvey, assistant secretary of defence for Indo-Pacific affairs, told Congress that Pakistan continues to allow US overflight in its airspace. “Pakistan has played an important role in Afghanistan. They supported the Afghan peace process. Pakistan also has allowed us to have overflight and access to be able to support our military presence in Afghanistan,” Mr Helvey told the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Asked about post-withdrawal plans, Helvey said the process is ongoing. “We’re working to reposition our counter-terrorism capabilities, including by retaining assets in the region,” he said

While Biden’s plan to withdraw from Afghanistan has been criticised for increasing the risk of an Al-Qaeda resurgence and a Taliban takeover in the country, it’s also being met with praise from progressive members of Congress looking to keep the focus on domestic issues.

A total of 23 members of Congress sent a letter to Biden on Friday commending the withdrawal, saying it could save US taxpayers $50 billion dollars. The group is urging the White House to cut this amount from the US defence budget and spend it to “fund the American people's needs”.