Afghan militants benefitting from Pakistan 'Safe Havens'

Washington – Insecurity and instability in Afghanistan are increasing due to the safe havens for terrorists in Pakistan. The United States warned that terrorists are taking advantage of the situation. John Kirby, media secretary at the Pentagon, said the United States was in ‘constant discussions’ with Pakistan. Stating that Pakistan’s terrorist policy is responsible for the situation in Afghanistan, Kirby said that India is playing a constructive role in the stability and development of Afghanistan.

Kirby said that US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin had a telephonic conversation with Pakistan’s Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa. There are safe havens for terrorists in Pakistan, which borders Afghanistan. Kirby accused the Taliban of using them to create insecurity and destabilise Afghanistan. Kirby indicated that the US Secretary of Defence had raised the concerns of the international community with Pakistan. Kerby said the US had stepped up its pressure on Pakistan, signalling that it had warned Pakistan to close down this safe haven.

Pakistan’s National Security Adviser Moeed Yousaf and ISI chief Faiz Hameed are visiting the United States. The visit was organised to improve relations between the two countries. But the Pakistani media is accusing that this is having the opposite effect. After coming to power, US President Joe Biden held talks with leaders of almost all major countries. But the list did not include Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan. That’s why Biden’s phone call has become a matter of prestige for the Pakistani prime minister, with opponents mocking Imran Khan. Moeed Yusuf claimed that even if Biden did not call Imran Khan, Pakistan has other options. But when asked what the other option is, Moeed Yusuf made a ridiculous mention of other means of communication instead of phone calls.

But responsible analysts from Pakistan are warning that the US president’s call to the Pakistani prime minister is not a laughing stock. The United States believes that Pakistan is to blame for the Taliban’s violence in Afghanistan. Analysts are worried that the US could impose sanctions on Pakistan over the issue. Pentagon spokesman Kirby hinted at this at a news conference.

Kirby has slammed Pakistan, saying that the safe havens for terrorists in Pakistan are responsible for the insecurity and instability in Afghanistan, which has raised concerns in the international community. This could come as a shock to Pakistan, which welcomes the Taliban’s military dominance in Afghanistan. Pakistani lawmakers have demanded that the government, for once, should clarify its policy on Afghanistan and the Taliban. On the one hand, Pakistan recognises the Ghani government in Afghanistan and on the other hand, Pakistan supports the Taliban, which is a double standard. This would allow the US to target Pakistan at any moment. Analysts say that the US action could range from economic sanctions to attacks on the Taliban.

While making serious allegations against Pakistan at his press conference, Kirby welcomed the constructive role played by India in Afghanistan. This is a big blow for Pakistan. Pakistan has suffered tremendous losses in the war on terror in Afghanistan. However, Pakistan laments that the US and the international community are giving more importance to India on the Afghanistan issue. Against that backdrop, Kerby seems to have made Pakistan even more uneasy by praising India.

Indians to return to the homeland from Mazar-e-Sharif

As the threat of the Taliban grows in Afghanistan, India has decided to repatriate officials and staff from its Mazar-e-Sharif Commissionerate. The Indian High Commission in Afghanistan has announced that a special flight will repatriate Indian officials and staff. The High Commission had also appealed to Indian nationals living in Afghanistan to contact them immediately if they want to leave the country.

The Taliban had launched an offensive to seize Mazar-e-Sharif. The Taliban also claimed control of the city. But the Afghan army is fighting to save the city. In such a situation, the threat to the Indian Commissionerate here had increased. Last month, the United States and Turkey decided to repatriate all staff from its Commissionerate in the region. The Indian High Commission in Afghanistan had said that it will decide after assessing the situation.