Continuing from last week, Pakistan is also in quandary to manage its relations with Afghanistan that follows an anti-Pakistan course despite friendly expectations, cajoling and persuasions. Pak-Afghan bilateralism is negatively affected, most of all, by the sticking variable of TTP-generated, Afghan-based, anti-Pakistan terrorism, and IEA’s recalcitrance to do something about it; besides growing anti-Pakistan sentiment among Afghans and vice versa.

Some rare, good news include a welcome trade initiative recently, the Islamic hamiyyat (camaraderie), the Pashtunwali bonds and the continued people-to-people contacts. The March 24-27 visit by Commerce Secretary Mohammad Khurram Agha, who met his Afghan counterpart Nooruddin Azizi, was a low-key indirect de-escalation sought by both sides. Acknowledging the untenability of hostility, some suggested policy pointers.

Terrorism first. Pakistan should continue with its policy of carrot and stick, cis and trans-frontier. One is aware that there are ‘lobbies’ at work that ‘scare’ decision-makers, painting the TTP ten-foot tall, warn of the ensuing violence getting out of control, and losing Afghan goodwill forever. None of this will happen. Pakistani State is strong with immense coercive power at its disposal. Nobody should learn wrong lessons from IEA ascendency against the USSR first, and most recently against the West Plus. One; USSR and Coalition were foreign occupation powers, and IEA forces were fighting a war of liberation on its soil, with facilities to rest, recuperate, get treatment and lodge families safely in next-door Pakistan. Without Pakistan’s unflinching military, moral and material support, Afghanistan would be a USSR dominion now. Two, TTP knows it cannot overcome the state of Pakistan, hence its desperate attacks to force negotiations.........

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