A recent Intelligence Based Operation (IBO) in Awaran district of Balochistan killed three terrorists whilst a huge cache of ammunition has also been recovered. Reporting the operation, ISPR maintained that together with the nation, the army “remains determined to thwart attempts at sabotaging peace, stability and progress of Balochistan”.

With continued technical surveillance and strategic reconnaissance by our intelligence agencies and security forces, the number of IBOs has surpassed 87 in the year 2022 alone, as stipulated by PIPS report. Such a resolve coupled with systematic and policy amends taking place recently are emblematic of the notion that Pakistan’s security cannot be compromised and that writ of the state will be maintained on every inch of Pakistan’s territory.

Not only Pakistan has witnessed the occasional episodes of terrorism with the rise of Taliban government to Kabul but in Afghanistan as well, IS-K’s number is reported to have been swelled to around 5000. Islamic State Khorasan Province, being an ideological violent challenge posits a serious threat to the regime in Kabul and hence provides Kabul with an opportunity to make good on recent visit by Pakistani delegation, involving Defense Minister Khawaja Asif and DG ISI Lieutenant General Nadeem Anjum. Afghanistan needs to realize that its 28.3 million people-two-third of its populace need urgent humanitarian assistance to survive in 2023, as put forth by OCHR whereby 6 million Afghani are estimated to be at emergency levels of food insecurity this year.

All this whilst both states can offer both security and economic prospects for each other. As of August 2022, 14,945 tonnes of humanitarian assistance has been provided while $500 million has been spent on capacity building of Afghanistan by Pakistan. Despite its own economic difficulties, Pakistan has kept up its humanitarian and social assistance appeal to Afghanistan as witnessed in the construction of 400-bed Jinnah Hospital-Afghanistan’s second largest-or in the domains of 75-km Jalabad-Torkhum Road construction. But it is imperative to note here that territorial and economic security are intertwined and hence while Pakistan needs to step up its economic appeal in Afghanistan-as India already has $3 billion worth of investment in the state-Afghanistan, on its part must honor its commitments under Doha agreement as well as remain steadfast to the recent pledges made to Pakistan.

A latest US report by US Institute of Peace (USIP) warned that Afghan Taliban will not withdraw their support to TTP and hence TTP’s proclaimed Spring Offensive is a major test for the authorities in Kabul to prove their commitments and resolve towards their national, regional as well as International Peace.

According to USA’s 2021 Country Report on Terrorism, TTP has been using Afghan-Pakistan belt to train its operatives and launch terrorist attacks, therefore prompting Pakistan to blow a stern warning to the Taliban to deal with such terror outfits on its side of the border. Afghanistan needs to initiate work towards their re-mobilization as utmost priority, as maintained in the recent visit in the spirits of all-encompassing bilateral relationship between the two states.

It needs to be understood that terrorism today is a trans-national phenomenon and while Pakistan has been able to thwart the menace of terrorism once, it has expertise and skill today to prevent emboldening of any such phenomenon in the state, once and for all and hence its security forces are well-equipped and determined enough to provide “resolute deterrence and secure a conducive and enabling environment” for the state and its people.

Afghanistan-Pakistan Reconciliation vis a. vis TTP can offer opportunities for Both

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