The terror attacks in Afghanistan are on the rise. Over the past few days about 100 plus people have been killed and wounded in the suicide bomb blasts in Kabul and Jalalabad for which Daesh has claimed the responsibility. The months of November and December have been the worst for the people of Afghanistan but no clear strategy of the United States in partnership with Afghanistan is in sight to eliminate Daesh as it did in Iraq and Syria. Avoiding the use of military might against the bases Daesh there gives credibility to former Afghan President Hamid Karzai, s allegations that the United States is supporting this most dangerous terrorist organization with money, arms and logistics.
Secretary of State Rix Tillerson, in his recent article published in the New York Times assured an aggressive strategy to counter Daesh for which, what he disclosed, greater authority has been given to military commanders on the battlefield. He said American forces have freedom to do what they can do best in partnership with the indigenous forces. He said that the US is prepared to partner with Pakistan to defeat terrorist organizations seeking safe heavens. Action on the ground in Afghan against Daesh will confirm the seriousness of President Trump’s administration firm resolve to fight this most dangerous global terrorist organization.
Daesh has carried out a number of suicide bomb attacks in Pakistan, particularly in the provinces of Baluchistan, Khyberpukhtunkhwa and Sindh, The responsibility of Quetta Church attack was claimed by it besides earlier incidents of terrorism in different parts of the country. But the PML-N government is in a state of denial about the spell over of Daesh to Pakistan. In Punjab, Chief Minister Shabaz Sharif is reluctant to give free hand to Rangers Paramilitry Force for clean up operation against militant’s sleeper cells in Southern Punjab. Former Interior Minister, Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan used to get infuriated whenever reporters of print and electronic media asked him about the presence of Daesh in Pakistan. The incumbent Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal also refuses to admit this imminent threat and prefers to live in the state of denial against this monster. Instability in Afghanistan affects Pakistan more than other countries of this region. China, Central Asian States and Russia are more concerned about the presence of Daesh as other militant groups are getting united under its umbrella but Pakistan’s government is entirely focused on saving political future of former Prime Minster Nawaz Sharif. Political leadership should engage, the United States, Afghanistan, China, Central Asian States and Russia to eliminate this scourge.
