Abdullah Abdullah's visit and new found trust in Pakistan
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Abdullah Abdullah, Afghanistan’s chief peace envoy, has been more proactive in ending decades-long conflict in his country. With his recent visit to Islamabad it also appears that he is getting closer to Pakistan.
Several times Abdullah declined invitations to visit Pakistan, but this time he said it was "necessary" for him to come as he saw that Prime Minister Imran Khan and Pakistan's leadership are on the same page with him regarding the ongoing Afghan peace process.
As for a long time, Islamabad and Kabul have been stumbling upon improving ties amid blaming each other for terrorist activity in their respective land, Abdullah's newly found trust regarding Pakistan's efforts for a peaceful Afghanistan is good news, coming amid the Afghan government's peace talks with the Taliban in Doha.
The chief peace negotiator asked Pakistan to use its influence on the Taliban to reduce violence and attacks on Afghan government forces — which have been disruptive to the peace process. But as much as Pakistan has played a pivotal role in bringing the US and Taliban to the table to sign a peace deal in February, Pakistan’s influence over the Taliban is over-exaggerated in regional and international arenas.
Mullah Yaqoob, the son of Mullah Omar who founded the Taliban, has been appointed the head of the group's military commission. But he has no affiliation with Pakistan. Same goes for Sheikh Abdul Hakim, who replaced Mullah Abbas Stanekzai as the group’s key negotiator for intra-Afghan peace talks. Stakenzai has been considered closer to Pakistan. The opening of the Taliban political office in Doha, Qatar also moved the group farther from Pakistan's influence.
The chief peace negotiator asked Pakistan to use its influence on the Taliban to reduce violence and attacks on Afghan government forces — which have been disruptive to the peace process. But as much as Pakistan has played a pivotal role in bringing the US and Taliban to the table to sign a peace deal in February, Pakistan’s influence over the Taliban is over-exaggerated in regional and international arenas.
Naila Mahsud
The significance of Abdullah’s visit is that it helped both Kabul and Islamabad understand their limitations and improve bilateral relations, which is reflected in Abdullah's own words: "The neighboring countries should shun the suspicion, rhetoric, and conspiracy theories that have dogged relations in the past."
The withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan, which is expected to be complete by next year's spring, can potentially throw Afghanistan into civil chaos, which will also have massive implications for Pakistan. Dealing with the rise of Daesh, who have been responsible for deadly attacks in both Pakistan and Afghanistan, will only be possible if the two countries are on the same page.
Abdullah’s visit seems to be bridging the existing gap between the two countries. He left Islamabad with Pakistan's assurance that its efforts to peacebuilding in Afghanistan will continue.
But Abdullah’s visit may not only help the peace process but also the economy of both countries, especially as Pakistan has recently opened two key transit routes to Afghanistan: Angor Adda in South Waziristan and the Karachi crossing in Kurram district. Border crossings at Chaman in Balochistan, Torkham in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Ghulam Khan in North Waziristan were also reopened to facilitate trade despite the coronavirus pandemic.
What is more interesting, however, is that some see Abdullah's visit as Pakistan's investment in what may be his future role in Afghanistan, when intra-Afghan talks yield a new political setup for the war-torn country.
– Naila Mahsud is a Pakistani political and International relations researcher, with a focus on regional politics and security issues.
Twitter: @MahsudNaila
