The decision of the interim regime in Pakistan to expel 1.7 million illegal aliens, predominantly Afghan refugees, has sparked criticism from various quarters, including the UN, the US, and the EU. This move comes as a surprising shift, given the prior condemnation of radical Islamists and militant groups such as the Afghan and Pakistani Taliban by these entities.
Despite Pakistan’s significant efforts, including the effective operations against foreign-sponsored proxies and the dismantling of the TTP and its affiliates in 2015, the country faced criticism rather than commendation. The origins of this criticism can be traced back to the alleged orchestration of “terrorism” by the US, aiming to manipulate it as a war tool for achieving broader objectives.
The departure of foreign troops from Afghanistan in August 2021 did not bring the expected relief to Pakistan’s western border. Instead, incidents of terrorism surged, intensifying each month, especially after the breakdown of secret peace talks with the TTP in November 2021. Pakistan, already grappling with multiple crises and an economic meltdown, found itself unable to afford the resurgence of terrorism, which it had successfully subdued at a high cost.
High-powered delegations visited Kabul to urge the interim regime to adhere to the Doha accord, close safe havens of the TTP in Eastern Afghanistan, and rein in the terrorist activities. However, these requests were turned down, with the interim regime denying any terrorism emanating from Afghan soil and asserting that Pakistan needed to address its internal issues.
