Pakistan PM Calls for Improvement of Track System for Afghan Transit Trade

The visit primarily aims to address the issue of the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) and mend relations with Islamabad.

Shirin Akhund, who maintains close ties with both the Taliban leadership and the TTP, is part of a delegation that Pakistani officials view with cautious optimism. Islamabad expects the delegation to propose negotiations with the TTP, an idea Pakistan has been reluctant to entertain.

Pakistan has consistently demanded that the TTP disarm before any talks commence. Furthermore, Islamabad has urged the Afghan Taliban to take action against the TTP on Afghan territory, a request that has been repeatedly denied.

The delegation, which includes Shirin Akhund, is scheduled to meet Pakistani officials, including Asif Durani, Pakistan's special envoy for Afghanistan. The visit comes at a time when Pakistan has scaled back high-level interactions with the Afghan Taliban, frustrated by their inability to curb TTP's attacks. These attacks have notably escalated, targeting Pakistani military forces and causing considerable concern in Islamabad.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Karzai highlighted the resolution's recognition of Afghanistan's sovereignty, independence, and the international community's commitment to its stability and development.

Karzai stressed the importance of women's participation in governance for Afghanistan's growth. He underscored the need for 'national understanding,' representing the people's will, and ensuring access to education for all, as critical to the nation's progress and the establishment of peace.

Writing from Kabul, Karzai asserted that Afghans themselves hold the key to resolving their country's issues and achieving lasting peace. His endorsement of the resolution contrasts with the Taliban's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which recently deemed the appointment of a special envoy 'unnecessary' and criticised the resolution for lacking consultation with the Taliban government.

The UN Security Council passed the resolution following an 'independent assessment and recommendations' by the agency's Special Coordinator for Afghanistan Freidoun Sinirlioglu. It received support from thirteen members, with Russia and China abstaining. The resolution calls for the implementation of Sinirlioglu's recommendations and advocates for the appointment of a special peace envoy for Afghanistan.

This figure marks a significant increase from 2022, where around 367 attacks were recorded.

The report, obtained by Afghanistan International Pashto, indicates a doubling of TTP's activities compared to the previous year. North and South Waziristan were the most targeted areas, with 208 and 152 incidents respectively, including five suicide bombings. Peshawar witnessed 57 attacks, whilst 40 occurred in Balochistan. Notably, attacks in Punjab rose from 5 in 2022 to 10 in 2023.

Ehsanullah Ehsan, TTP's spokesperson, conveyed to Afghanistan International that their attacks surged by 100% in 2023 and continue to grow. He also noted a rise in recruitment, with many young Pakistanis from schools and universities expressing interest in joining TTP.

In response, the Pakistan Army reported conducting 18,736 military operations in 2023, eliminating 565 militants. However, the Army also acknowledged significant losses, with over a thousand casualties including 260 officers and soldiers due to terrorist attacks.

The Pakistani government has previously attributed the escalation of TTP's activities to their access to advanced weaponry following the Taliban's ascent to power in Afghanistan. Additionally, Pakistan asserts that TTP's leadership orchestrates these attacks from within Afghanistan.

He criticised the international community, particularly the United Nations and Security Council, for being misled by inaccurate information regarding the security situation in Afghanistan.

Mullah Yaqoob paralleled views held by officials from the Islamic Republic of Iran, labelling ISIS as an external endeavour. He urged the alleged financiers of ISIS to acknowledge its defeat in Afghanistan. This statement comes despite American officials' recognition of the Taliban's efforts against ISIS. However, a contrasting report by Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, to the Security Council, highlighted ISIS's growing operational capacity in Afghanistan, posing a substantial threat to the region.

Guterres's report raised alarms over ISIS's access to advanced NATO-made weapons and its increasingly sophisticated attacks against the Taliban, targeting high-ranking officials. In response, Mullah Yaqoob, speaking at a press conference in Kabul, attempted to minimise the threats posed by resistance groups and ISIS. He accused sources of providing false information about ISIS's presence and activities in Afghanistan.

Yaqoob emphasised the Taliban's success in establishing security and reducing crime, citing a significant decrease in armed robberies and the arrest of numerous smugglers, along with the confiscation of thousands of weapons from unauthorised individuals.

Reacting to a recent United Nations Security Council resolution, The Front, led by Yasin Zia, former Chief of Staff of the Afghan government's army, contends that increased engagement with the Taliban alone will not yield positive outcomes.

In its statement, AFF warns of a looming crisis in Afghanistan under Taliban rule, highlighting issues like humanitarian crises, poverty, and discrimination. These conditions, they argue, could potentially foster extremist groups.

The Front stresses the importance of involving anti-Taliban forces in drafting the mission of the UN's special envoy and advocates for a democratic and rights-respecting approach. They also emphasise the need for an elected system in Afghanistan, asserting that focusing solely on human rights issues under the Taliban will not address long-term challenges.

The recent UN Security Council resolution to appoint a special representative for Afghanistan has drawn mixed reactions. While the Taliban have dismissed the need for such a representative, the AFF views it as a positive step towards addressing Afghanistan's complex situation.