New initiative of Taliban – what is there for Pakistan and Jammu and Kashmir? Dr Shabir Choudhry

 New initiative of Taliban – what is there for Pakistan and Jammu and Kashmir?

Dr Shabir Choudhry     1 December 2022

 

Hina Rubani Khar, Pakistan’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, visited Kabul with the Pakistani delegation. She was warmly received by her hosts, but what has she achieved from this visit?

 

She had talks with Afghanistan’s senior leaders. Also, she had a meeting with the leaders of a women's business forum. The purpose of the visit was to talk on issues of trade, security and transit.

 

The Taliban, after a long and bloody struggle took over the government on 15 august 2021, and to date no country, including Pakistan has recognised them. Despite non-recognition, Pakistan has cordial relationship with the Taliban, mainly because of the past services and good ‘neighbourly’ relations.

 

During her visit the Pakistani Minister of State, had meetings with Abdul Salam Hanafi, Taliban’s Interim Deputy Prime Minister, Interim Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, and interim Commerce Minister Haji Nooruddin Azizi. Of course, there were other senior officials present in the meetings.

 

Critics say, is it not interesting that a few days before her visit, Tehreek e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a Pakistani militant group fighting against Pakistan, and which wants to impose their brand of extremist Islamic laws in Pakistan, ended their ceasefire in Pakistan, and resumed their military actions inside Pakistan.

 

It is believed that, despite Pakistan’s anger and complaints, the Taliban government in Kabul is fully supporting TTP and their agenda in Pakistan.

Pakistani Minister of Interior, Rana Sanaullah expressed his great concern on the deteriorating security situation and said, ‘the involvement of TTP militants in terror activities inside Pakistan should be a matter of concern for the Afghan Taliban and it is dangerous for regional peace.’

He further said, "TTP is enjoying all sorts of facilities in Afghanistan." He urged the governments of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan to take appropriate actions to control terrorism. He said if the provincial governments fail to control terrorism, then the federal role government can take the matter in its hands. 

As if this was not enough to send an unambiguous message to Islamabad, the Taliban published and circulated a highly controversial map before the visit.

 

The map exhibits a truncated Pakistan and a bigger Afghanistan with areas of Jammu and Kashmir divided in two with the following captions: Hindu Kashmir and Afghani Kashmir.

 

No area of Jammu and Kashmir was shown as part of Pakistan, as the present so-called Azad Kashmir was included in the Hindu Kashmir, and the areas of Gilgit Baltistan included in the Afghani Kashmir.

 

This map transmits a big message for the region. I shared this map on social media, and people with little knowledge and wisdom, in line with instructions of their handlers, criticized me, and called this act of posting an anti-Jammu and Kashmir activity. They may change their minds once their handlers understand what this map entails and how this can affect the region.

 

The map clearly shows that Jammu and Kashmir belongs to India, and they called it Hindu Kashmir. To the Taliban, Gilgit Baltistan and adjacent areas are part of Afghanistan.

 

The message is clear:

 

1.  There will be no activity of Taliban or their allies inside the ‘Hindu Kashmir’.

 

2.  In return, they expect no adverse activity from New Delhi.

 

3.  The Taliban can take over Gilgit Baltistan either via Wah Khan corridor, or via areas which are currently part of Pakistan.

 

4.  If everything goes according to their plans, then the current routes of the CPEC will go through Afghanistan, and not Pakistan.

 

5.  China has no love for Pakistan. They are only interested in their economic, political and strategic interests. If these interests are protected by Afghanistan, Beijing will have no problem with that.

 

In conclusion, is it possible that there is some understanding among the international establishment and the countries of the region to redraw the map of the region?

 

If the region wants to move forward with a new agenda to face new challenges, and one country, which is still bogged down with the past policies of hatred, vengeance and extremism, and wants to throw a spanner, and create obstacles, will others remain quiet and be kept hostage to the past?

 

Is it possible that the Taliban have a tacit agreement that they can continue with this agenda. If Pakistan does not change and the Taliban have their way, then they will agree with the new arrangements.

 

In other words, Beijing and New Delhi will remain ‘neutral’, and will not send their troops to subdue the Taliban. Perhaps, for New Delhi, Gilgit Baltistan in the hands of Afghanistan is better than in the hands of Islamabad, as they will have access to Central Asia.

 

Writer is a political analyst and author of many books and booklets. Also, he is Director Institute of Kashmir Affairs and President of Foreign Affairs Committee, UKPNP

Email:drshabirchoudhry@gmail.com