What should be Pakistan’s new Afghan policy?

Pakistani flags and the Taliban flag (right) flutter on their respective border sides as seen from the Pakistan-Afghanistan border crossing point in Chaman, Pakistan, on Aug. 18. AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES

In recent drastic political developments in Afghanistan with Americans and other international forces gone and Kabul government’s structure completely fallen like a house of cards. The Pakistani leadership must be in the crucial phase of redirecting a new Afghan policy with the context of Pakistan’s national interests. This time however neither Pakistan’s political leadership nor military leadership will afford and repeat any past mistakes that have been committed by previous governments.

 

Relations with the Afghan parties

From the start of the peace negotiations with America, Pakistan’s foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Prime Minister Imran Khan always focused on Pakistan’s role in facilitating an Afghan led, Afghan owned Inter-Afghan dialogue with all the Afghan political parties, sectarian parties and all religious and ethnic groups to sit together and resolve their differences. In a recent speech by PM Imran Khan, he also stressed upon the establishment of an “inclusive Afghan government” with the representation of every Afghan.

Before Taliban’s takeover of Kabul, important Afghan politicians and influential figures such as Mohammad Karim Khalili the head of Hizb-e-Wahdat, former foreign minister of Afghanistan Salahuddin Rabbani, Haji Mohammad Mohaqiq, Abdul Latif Pedram and even speaker Wolesi Jirga Mir Rehman Rehmani arrived in Islamabad. The delegation of Afghan politicians met with the foreign minister and later with the Prime Minister to discuss the current situation of Afghanistan and what might be the future of both nations. One thing is clear that now the Tajik and Hazara leadership is ready to coordinate with the Pakistani government who previously had trust issues and always had an evident tilt towards India and America.

 

Engaging with the Taliban

Just last year a high level Taliban delegation led by Mullah Abdul Ghani Beradar visited Islamabad and met with Pakistan’s most powerful personalities and figures. From what it seems is that the Pakistani government is indeed in constant contact with the Taliban leadership. After the Taliban’s takeover, the Pakistani government should be even more active in engaging with the Taliban leadership as being the only authority in Afghanistan at the moment.

Moreover in Taliban’s first ever press conference conducted by spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid, he categorically announced that the Islamic Emirates of Afghanistan do not seek any external or internal enemies, it respects and recognizes all international borders and will not let anyone use Afghan territory against any country especially its neighbors, something which Pakistan always wanted from the Afghan side to secure its national interests.

 

Security concerns with Afghanistan

A huge focus in the formulation of Afghan policy is given to security concerns. Pakistan has a very long porous border with Afghanistan which used to be a daily crossing route for smugglers, illegal refugees and many terror groups such as BLA, BRA, TTP, UIM etc. This porous border was the main reason for terror attacks conducted on Pakistani soil. Another important security concern of Pakistan was India’s open involvement in Afghanistan for the very reason to destabilize Pakistan which was also acknowledged by former United States Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel.

No matter what the future Afghan government of Taliban looks like, Pakistan must coordinate with them to counter such terror outfits and secure its western borders and reduce the security threats that doesn’t just bother Pakistan’s national interests but also China’s one belt one road initiative via CPEC.

 

Refugee crisis

Another important aspect in formulation of Afghan policy is the refugee crisis. For the last 30 years Pakistan has provided 3 million Afghans refuge in Pakistan. Being a developing country with a not so stable economy, this is something Pakistani governments has been managing with extreme difficulty. Nonetheless Pakistan is formulating a plan that will send Afghan refugees back to their homeland in a time taken process without harming their respect and dignity.

 

China and Russia’s Afghan policy

Right after the Taliban took over Kabul city, the Chinese government released a statement that they are ready to recognize and formally accept the Taliban legitimacy in the country. Following it, some reports coming from Moscow suggest that Russia may also take a similar stance to China. Both countries being rivals to America are expected to take all the steps that will reduce America’s influence and hegemony in the region.

It might be possible that after China and Russia, Pakistan also decides to accept and recognize the Taliban legitimacy over Kabul, but for this to happen, formulation of an inclusive government with representation from every side after an intra-Afghan dialogue is an important prerequisite.