Wednesday July 2, 2014
Kabul (BNA) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has announced that Afghanistan and Pakistan have reached an agreement on joint strategy against terrorism.
No doubt, the joint anti-terrorism efforts between the two countries will have constructive impacts in reining terrorism and militancy. But, the important topic is that Pakistan needs to take practical steps so positive outcomes from the joint cooperation against terrorism are achieved. If we analyze Pakistan commitments, in the past the neighboring country always pledged to the international community and the Afghan government that it will seriously contribute in fighting terrorism and extremism. But, Pakistan never honored its commitments with regard to anti-terrorism derive and continued harboring terrorism and extremism in its soil. The dual policy which was pursued by Pakistan in war against terrorism has changed the public perception in Afghanistan with respect to the honest contribution of Islamabad and today there is a great mistrust among the people of Afghanistan regarding the issue.
The recent waves of new attacks in Helmand and Pakistan’s shelling on Afghanistan’s borderline regions have further intensified misconceptions and distrusts among Afghan people toward Pakistan. According to some reports from Helmand province, Pakistani nationals are also fighting against the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) alongside the Taliban. It is a fact that without cooperation of neighboring countries particularly Pakistan, it is difficult to restore lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan. so, Pakistan’s honest cooperation is crucial to maintain peace and security in Afghanistan. However, leaders from both countries have always talked about common enemies and have vowed to undertake joint efforts about common issues. It is hoped that with the trip of Presidential National Security Advisor Rangeen Dadfar Spanta to Islamabad and agreement of the two countries on forming a joint working committee regarding war on terrorism, the ongoing issues between the two countries are settled. So, we can be hopeful that Spanta’s trip leaves positive impacts on peace process in Afghanistan.
Because, Pakistan over every session has promised to honestly contribute in fighting terrorism and militancy. People of Afghanistan are also optimistic that Pakistan will realize the fact that the insurgency doesn’t support interests of the two countries and both nations need to jointly combat their common enemies. Afghanistan as a peace loving country has always tried to forge brotherly relations with the world countries and it didn’t pursue politics of interference. So, Afghanistan expects believe that other countries also follow the same policy regarding Afghanistan and our people never allow the aliens to meddle in its internal affairs. People of Afghanistan expect the Pakistani stakeholders come with their commitments and take practical steps to combat terrorism in the region which threatens both countries.
In recent years, neighboring countries have always struggled to intensify their influence inside Afghanistan. Despite their commitments, relations, between Afghanistan and these countries have always witnessed major ups and downs and still economic, political and transition issues among Afghanistan and these countries haven’t been settled. The establishment of joint working committee against terrorism yield positive outcomes at a time that Pakistan seriously fights the menace of terrorism and avoid dealing with the issue in superficial manner so that a comprehensive and broad mechanism is formulated to fight terrorism in the regional and global level.
