Edit in The Express Tribune, Mar 1, 2023.
A major success in counterterrorism has come the Kabul’s way. In what seems to be a well-choreographed operation, the Afghan Taliban took out IS-K’s top leader, who was also its military and intelligence chief. This will surely act as a deterrent and will go a long way in further consolidating the Afghan interim government’s grip over power, enabling them to tackle the terror fissures in a more comprehensive manner. Afghan Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid took pride in announcing that senior-ranking IS-K leaders have been killed, and named one of them as Qari Fateh. It was also disclosed that another IS-K person supposedly working in cahoots for a subcontinental terrorist outfit has been arrested. These major breakthroughs, incidentally, have come close on the heels of a high-powered delegation from Pakistan’s visit to the strife-torn country, and hints at a new epilogue of cooperation.
Mujahid’s submission that the exterminated IS-K man was the mastermind behind many of the terrorist attacks in Kabul, and had served as a chief for Khorasan and Kumar provinces, makes it certainly a big hit. The interim dispensation has to keep its head high and not to lose the stream of going behind the dreaded elements. It is a good thing that the Afghan Taliban are mindful of their pledge to ensure that no non-state actor makes use of their soil for attacking any neighbouring country. At the same time, it is essential that Afghanistan itself is cleansed from these parasites who have brought in more death and destruction to the four decades of revulsion-hit country but have also endangered regional peace and security. Booting out the TTP’s fugitive elements in Afghanistan as well as the remnants of al-Qaeda, IS-K and their abettors is a must.
Tuesday’s success is in need of being eulogised, and neighbouring states must come forward to buckle up Kabul’s resolve by taking care of its immediate concerns. The region can neither afford to see instability nor return to war-mongering in Afghanistan. The dividends of interconnectivity hinges on Kabul overcoming terror fissures, and it has to be taken care of. https://tribune.com.pk/story/2403740/kabuls-moment
