Pakistan’s Special Representative on Afghanistan, Ambassador Asif Durrani, has asserted that his country’s suffering stemming from the internal situation in Afghanistan, including intensified attacks by the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) from Afghan soil, exceeds the combined impact of Pakistan’s three wars with India. Addressing the International Conference “Pakistan in the Emerging Geopolitical Landscape,” Durrani revealed that over 80,000 Pakistanis have lost their lives during the past two decades of the war on terror, and that the country is still grappling with the tragic consequences. He shared that Pakistan had initially hoped that the withdrawal of NATO forces from Afghanistan would bring peace to the region. However, those expectations were quickly dashed.
TTP attacks on Pakistan’s border regions have surged by 65%, while suicide attacks have increased by a staggering 500%. Durrani expressed deep concern over the TTP’s heightened attacks on Pakistan while exploiting Afghan soil, noting that the participation of Afghan nationals in these attacks is another alarming aspect. He elaborated on Pakistan’s plight amidst the shifts in Afghanistan, emphasizing the significant geopolitical repercussions the nation has endured since the Soviet Union’s invasion of its neighbor.
The post-9/11 world order has had a profoundly negative impact on Pakistan, Durrani said. Apart from the loss of 80,000 citizens’ lives, including 8,000 law enforcement personnel, the country’s economic opportunity cost is estimated at a staggering $150 billion. He highlighted that while Pakistan was designated as a non-NATO ally, the imposition of travel advisories by NATO members has adversely affected the country’s business environment, leading to increased costs and stagnant exports.
Durrani also emphasized that Afghanistan has become a permanent fixture in Pakistan’s regional paradigm for over four decades. Pakistan’s immediate challenge lies along its western border, despite the persistence of adversarial actions from its eastern neighbor. However, Durrani expressed confidence that Pakistan could navigate its challenges with Afghanistan through adept diplomacy, including addressing the TTP threat.
He stressed the enduring friendship with China and Iran, highlighting their potential to establish a robust and lasting partnership encompassing security and economic domains. The Indo-US budding romance, flux in Middle Eastern politics, and Israel’s atrocities against the Palestinians would pose formidable challenges for Pakistan and its diplomacy, he concluded.
