Afghanistan echoes India on terror: Wants terror safe havens busted

Pakistan, which today stands completely isolated on the issue of terrorism, has received yet another jolt at the United Nations; this time from Afghanistan. Addressing the 74th Session of the UN General Assembly, Afghanistan National Security Advisor Dr. Hamdullah Mohib called for global cooperation against terror, wherever they exist.

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'Collective security approach'

He said, "Terrorism is an idea, as much as it is a form of violence. We must continue to work together to extinguish the ideologies behind terrorism, wherever they may exist." 

"The zero-tolerance approach that has been called for repeatedly must no longer be a talking point, and instead become an action point. We need more institutional cooperation. We need more decisive action within the region. A strengthened collective security approach must take into account the wide nexus of transnational criminal activities as a whole, inching the flow of terrorist fighters, their recruitment, and resources that allow them to remain lethal," he added.

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Kabul has time and again expressed outrage over Islamabad's inability and unwillingness to rein in terror elements operating and thriving on its soil. Kabul has also been critical of the Pakistani deep state's attempts to derail the peace talks. The Afghan NSA's remarks come barely days after Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan admitted to ISI training jihadis to wage war in Afghanistan.

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Strained relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan

Afghanistan's sentiments were echoed by both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. While PM Modi reminded the world that the menace of terrorism needed global cooperation, Jaishankar went to the extent of calling Pakistan, 'Terroristan'. Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have been strained since long. Both have accused each other over border aggression and failing to crack down on terror.

The peace talks with the Taliban were a glimmer of hope. The talks collapsed in September after US President Donald Trump pulled the plug over an American soldier's killing in a Taliban attack. Now, thanks to Imran, we know who pulls the strings in so far as the Taliban is concerned. At the UN on Monday, Afghanistan sent out a loud and clear message to Pakistan.

"To the Taliban and their foreign sponsors, hear this now, a message from the Afghan people: Join us in peace, or we will continue to fight. This is a fight we can win."

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