The Taliban have taken over most of Afghanistan in a little more than a week and have entered Kabul without facing resistance. This has stunned the world and raised questions as to how things went so bad so fast in Afghanistan under the US watch. The Taliban’s control over Afghanistan after twenty years will have both short term and long term implications for its neigbouring countries, particularly Pakistan.
Pakistan will be required soon to take a decision regarding the recognition of the new government in Kabul. With terrorist groups operating from Afghanistan increasingly targeting minorities, law enforcement personnel and those working on CPEC projects in Pakistan, many would question the Taliban’s policy regarding these terrorist networks. Pakistan’s concerns are shared by many other countries that include the US, Russia, China and Afghanistan’s several other neigbours. Statements from the Taliban that they would not allow anyone to use Afghan territory against other countries would satisfy few. As New Zealand PM Jacinda Arden put it, ‘it’s going to be all about actions, not the words’. The Taliban have to satisfy Pakistan and other concerned countries how they intend to deal with the terrorists operating from their soil.
While the Taliban’s victory has been less bloodstained than was being expected, fears remain that they might reimpose policies that in the past alienated Afghan ethnic groups and minority sects, denied jobs to women and education to girls while stifling media freedom. Ruthless treatment of a major section of population led in the past to international boycott of the white dominated South Africa. Countries can also be denied recognition if they continue to host terrorists who pose danger to neighboiurs.
The Taliban may claim that for the last twenty years they had been fighting the US supported government that ruled Kabul and were not in a position to open another front against the terrorists operating from Afghanistan. Now that they are in power, it is their duty to ensure that their territory is not used to launch attacks inside any other country.
Unlike Afghanistan, Pakistan was created to become a modern federal democracy with Islamic concept of people’s welfare high on its agenda. It is for the PTI government to ensure that extremist tendencies that endanger democracy and pluralist values are brought under control by urgently implementing the National Action Plan.
