Obja Borah Hazarika
Two Asian neighbours, Afghanistan and Pakistan suffer from many complex issues. Wherein, cooperation between the two can alter the world’s security scenario in general and Asia in particular. The precarious nature of both Governments’ has resulted in several security shortcomings with serious repercussions for the locals, neighbourhood and beyond.
Undoubtedly, determined and dedicated efforts by both countries would promote a conducive environment to battle security threats and concerns. Towards that end, Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Dr. Zalmai Rassoul visit to Pakistan on 30 November last was a positive step in this direction.
He called on Pakistan Premier Raja Pervez Ashraf and held talks with his counterpart Hina Rabbani Khar. Ashraf reiterated that both nations faced a common challenge of terrorism and drugs and needed to work closely to confront these challenges.
Importantly, the focus of Rassoul’s visit was on Afghanistan’s situation, peace and reconciliation process, cooperation in political and economic fields and security issues. Whereby, the two sides agreed to have an institutionalized mechanism to address cross-border incursions and shelling issue.
Additionally, they decided to hold a joint conference of Afghan and Pakistani Ulema in Kabul by January end and concurred to enter into a bilateral Visa Abolition Agreement to facilitate visa-free travel for diplomats of both countries.
Significantly, both sides accepted a Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) would further deepen bilateral ties and agreed to negotiate soon to make SPA a reality. Pakistan’s Foreign Minister presented SPA’s draft proposal to Rassoul.
But concluding this agreement would be challenging given Islamabad’s dubious efforts at tackling insurgency fuelled by Afghanistan’s Taliban. In fact, Kabul remains to be convinced of Pakistan’s sincerity.
Recall, in October Afghan President Hamid Karzai, sparked a row with Islamabad after he declared the pre-conditions for SPA, namely, “terrorism must stop, extremism dismantled, anti-Afghan activities ended and destruction of Afghanistan discontinued.” Against this backdrop, the need for SPA is a welcome development.
Undeniably, a commitment by the Pakistani Establishment on its firmness in dealing with the Taliban and tackling terrorism is necessary for Kabul to cooperate with Pakistan vis-à-vis security and other issues.
Rassoul also made plain Afghani apprehensions of Pakistan’s credibility and intentions by outlining any strategic partnership agreement required “full trust” between the two sides. “The issue is that you cannot sign a SPA where there is not full trust and confidence,” Rassoul said to Khar, even as it marked the “first step” in paving the way for signing SPA. Khar replied, “Both sides had started the journey towards finalising the agreement.”
The visit also saw Pakistan agree to operationalise the joint commission on release of prisoners which would see another Taliban prisoners batch being handed over to Afghanistan in order to facilitate peace talks between insurgents and the Afghan government.
Earlier this month, talks between Islamabad and Kabul’s High Peace Council resulted in the release of 9 Taliban members. Afghan officials strongly believe that Taliban leaders held in Pakistan, if released, could help bring militants to the negotiating table, ahead of the 2014 pull-out of US-led NATO troops.
This apart, the neighbours consented to extend an embryonic regional free trade agreement to Tajikistan in the hope that transit trade from Pakistani sea ports to Central Asia would enrich all three countries.
A Pakistani official described the issues discussed during the visit of the Afghan Foreign Minister as “positive measures”. In fact, Islamabad, known to cultivate ties with the Taliban, was seen as mending its ways and attempting to cooperate with Kabul to control the spiral of terrorism orchestrated by Taliban.
Indeed, according to foreign experts, the rise in militancy inside Pakistan forced the country’s leaders to reappraise and review its support for Taliban. However, the fact that Taliban’s insurgency remains undiminished, hardly any steps have been taken to curb its activities inside Pakistan, is a sign of Islamabad’s dubiousness or lack of control by Pakistan’s Government over its own territory, groups and people.
Pertinently, Pakistan Foreign Minister Khar expressed keenness to build strong bilateral relations with Afghanistan as stability therein was in the interests of Pakistan. Adding, that Islamabad would continue to support the Afghan people as it had done in the past.
Further, both Foreign Ministers released a joint statement which reiterated their commitment to cooperation in tackling terrorism and working for a strategic partnership agreement which was encouraging, notwithstanding the otherwise suspicious nature of relationship between Islamabad and Kabul.
Significantly, Pakistan’s lacklustre efforts in curbing violence unleashed by the Taliban, allegedly due to its designs of befriending a possible future power in Afghanistan, is one of the main reasons for prickly bilateral ties.
Yet, the positive overtone of the joint statement is important given the bad blood between the neighbours last year post Afghan High Peace Council Chief Burhanuddin Rabbani assassination on 20 September last year, when Kabul accused Islamabad of orchestrating the killing.
Additionally, the renewed focus and vigour with which Pakistan in pushing for SPA with Afghanistan could be viewed in the context of the strategic partnership agreement which Kabul signed with India last year. Much to the consternation of Islamabad, it paved the way for New Delhi to train and equip Afghan security forces. India and Pakistan both have their set of interests in fostering close cooperation with Afghanistan.
Undeniably, the SPA with India in 2011, somewhat threw the balance both nations had with Afghanistan in favour of India, at least where the recognized Afghan Government is concerned.
Thus, the renewed vigour by Pakistan to conclude a SPA with Afghanistan should be read as a move to restore the balance between Islamabad and New Delhi. Especially, to ensure favourable positions when foreign troops withdraw from Afghanistan in 2014.
In sum, both sides need to make concerted efforts to deal with the terse security situation which plagues the neighbours. They should be prioritized and dealt with utmost commitment, sensitivity and firmness, along-with trust building, by. INFA
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