From Our Bureau
NEW DELHI: Amid a spike in terror attacks in recent months, Pakistan faces a tough decision: how much to help the new Taliban government in Afghanistan while contending with growing risks to its own citizens.
The New York Times says group’s rule in Kabul has emboldened the Pakistani Taliban, which has extorted traders and senior government officials with threats, and killed scores of police officers. But Pakistani officials stress that a stable Afghanistan is essential for a stable Pakistan.
“Is there a chance that if the Taliban government is squeezed, there could be a change for the better? No.” Prime Minister Imran Khan of Pakistan said in an interview this month.
Some analysts say such views are overly optimistic now that the U.S. is no longer a major counterterrorism partner there — and, reflecting the country’s dilemma, Pakistan has not diplomatically recognized the Afghan Taliban.
Rising attacks: Pakistan witnessed a 42 per cent increase in terrorist attacks in 2021 compared with the previous year, according to the Pak Institute of Peace Studies, based in Islamabad, with a significant surge after Kabul fell. The report noted that the takeover had made it harder for Pakistan to stamp out militant activity at home.
