Pakistan’s army chief is in Washington this week seeking U.S. assistance against what Pakistan alleges are terrorist havens in neighboring Afghanistan, as Pakistan believes there has been an escalation in terrorist activities since the Afghan Taliban regained power in Afghanistan in 2022. The Pakistani government has been trying to convince U.S. security and defense officials that militant groups such as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Islamic State’s Khorasan offshoot (IS-K) pose a threat not only to Pakistan but also to U.S. and global security. Pakistani government concern was exemplified in the deadly attack on a military camp in northwest Pakistan. The attack ended in at least 23 deaths and over 40 injuries. In response, Pakistan demanded action against all terrorist groups, including their leadership and sanctuaries. The Foreign security minister insisted on the apprehension and extraction of perpetrators, as well as leaders from sanctuaries in Afghanistan. Some government officials even suggested that Pakistan should propose offering U.S. drone bases to target terrorist sanctuaries in Afghanistan. However the US has remained a neutral stance, and while they have shown sympathy to Pakistan, it has seemed the US is supporting a diplomatic resolution, and will not take military action. Additionally, Afghanistan has consistently rejected Pakistan’s allegations, saying they do not permit groups and individuals to pose threats to any country from Afghan soil.
I believe the increased terror in Afghanistan can have significant implications for Pakistan, as seen in recent attacks. Afghanistan and Pakistan, historically have not maintained the best relations, and as they share a border the instability in Afghanistan can potentially spill over into Pakistan. This can lead to various challenges for Pakistan. One is cross-border attacks This poses a direct threat to security and stability in the country. Pakistan as seen in the recent attacks, has faced multiple challenges in dealing with militant groups operating in the bordering regions, and the situation can worsen if terrorist groups in Afghanistan escalate. Another challenge Pakistan may face is the increase of refugees. In times of conflict and instability people often seek refuge in neighboring countries. Pakistan has already been hosting a larger number of Afghan refugees in decades. An increase in terror activities can correlate with a fresh wave of refugees, which can strain Pakistan’s resources and infrastructure. The final problem is the increasing spread of extremist ideas. Terrorist groups operating in Pakistan can find sympathizers and supporters in Pakistan, which can fuel radicalization and extremism. This poses an internal threat to Pakistan.
In class, we discussed how in recent years the US has shown less interest in the Middle East since pulling out of Afghanistan in 2022. This can explain why the US is not getting involved despite Pakistan’s pleas. We can see the US government supporting a diplomatic resolution, and following a cooperative approach, compared to an interventionist. However, in a different time, things may have been very different in terms of the US response. We can assume this because in the past The United States has funded several counterterrorism movements. But in the absence of attacks against the US, the country will remain neutral.