As tensions simmer across the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, Taliban violence persists and Chinese interest in Afghanistan grows, G Parthasarathy considers current and potential developments in the region.
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| STRIKING BACK: The US mounts regular drone attacks on Pakistan’s tribal areas in retaliation for Afghan Taliban hits against American and Afghan forces |
Pakistan now finds itself on the horns of a dilemma. The Americans allege that the Afghan Taliban under Mullah Omar and its sword arm, led by Sirajuddin Haqqani, are acting with ISI support to attack American and Afghan Government forces. In retaliation, the Americans mount regular drone attacks on Pakistan’s tribal areas. The Tehrik e Taliban e Pakistan (TTP), now led by Hakimullah Mehsud, and a Taliban leader from Swat located near the capital Islamabad, Maulana Fazlullah, are attacking military targets in Pakistan. They appear determined to impose Taliban style Sharia Law in Pakistan. Battles with the TTP over the past five years have led to the loss of over 5000 lives and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people from their homes. The latest TTP attack on the Kamra air base, located near Islamabad, is the third attack by the TTP on this critical military facility. This base houses the strategic Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, where frontline JF 17 fighters are assembled, in the presence of Chinese technicians. Two squadrons of fighter aircraft operate from the Kamra base. A similar attack was mounted earlier on the Sargodha air base near Lahore. Interestingly, both the air bases attacked are reported to house nuclear weapons.
These developments are occurring at a time when tensions have been growing across the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Over the past few weeks, the Pakistan army has been shelling what it claims are bases of the TTP, located within Afghanistan. The growing tensions with Pakistan have led to the Afghan Parliament voting for the dismissal of the country’s Defence and Interior Ministers for their alleged inability to defend the country from Pakistani attacks. Pakistan, in turn, has been implying that Maulana Fazlullah and his TTP supporters are receiving haven and support on Afghan soil. The question that naturally arises is whether the Afghans are paying back the Pakistanis for the support that the ISI extends to the Taliban and Haqqani network on Pakistani soil.
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