On September 6, Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) attacked military check posts in Chitral district in the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Adding to the agony of Pakistan, the Afghan Taliban’s role as an effective mediator puzzle many and emboldens TTP. The returned of the Afghan Taliban rekindled hopes Pakistan would eventually get rid of unrelenting terrorism, contrary to the expectations, Pakistan could not restrain the Afghan Taliban to act in line with its demands. Also, Pakistan decade old fantasy about the Afghan Taliban would help it in containing TTP seem to make no sense now. The Afghan Taliban’s uncompromising commitment with TTP means that Pakistan has to either ignore the violence or concede to TTP to maintain a healthy relationship with the Afghan Taliban.

Source: Hindustan Times December 02, 2023 05:07 UTC