The Taliban Fiasco: A Lesson for Pakistan

The Centre for Research and Security Studies states that in 2024, Pakistan had a total of 1,166 terrorist attacks and counter-terrorism operations, which resulted in 2,546 fatalities and 2,267 injuries.

- HARSHA KAKAR

Among them, 685 fatalities were of military personnel. According to Pakistan's DG Inter Services Public Relations, "383 officers and soldiers died while neutralising 925 terrorists through nearly 60,000 intelligence-based operations."

This was the deadliest year for security forces and the country in terms of terrorist incidents. Attacks on Pakistan's security forces have been rising since the emergence of the Taliban government in Kabul. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan alone accounted for 94 per cent of fatalities and 89 per cent of incidents.

There were also a number of attacks on Chinese workers employed in the CPEC, which is also guarded by two corps of the Pakistan army, leading to anger from the Chinese leadership. It was frustration at being unable to stem these attacks that compelled Pakistan to launch its airstrikes on Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) training camps situated in the border regions of Afghanistan.

Pakistan has repeatedly been accusing the Taliban of providing sanctuaries to the TTP. The Kabul leadership, on the other hand, has been claiming that either the TTP does not exist on its soil, or that Pakistan can negotiate with it. Recently, the Taliban Information Minister, Khairullah Khairkhwa, mentioned that Kabul would continue providing shelter to the TTP as they are its 'guests'. This varying stand has been the bone of contention between Islamabad and Kabul.

As per the Taliban, Pakistan's air strikes killed almost 50 civilians in Patika, all Pashtun refugees from Pakistan and mostly women and children. Pakistan later admitted to the air strikes, claiming it targeted TTP camps only, while Shehbaz Sharif again sought improved ties with Kabul. He said, "We have conveyed to the Afghan government that we desire good ties with them, but TTP should be stopped from killing our innocent people."