KABUL: Pakistan pursues the policy of “strategic depth” whereby it wants to convert Afghanistan into a client state. Its Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), which controls several terrorist outfits in Afghanistan, enhances the terrorist activities when it feels that the Afghan government is not following its diktat or becoming close to India. ISI uses the Taliban to dislodge the lawful government and, if feasible, to establish a government of its predilection.
The ISI is heavily involved in distribution of arms, financial assistance, logistical and military assistance to the Afghan Taliban, and especially the Hekmatyar group, Haqqani network, Hezb-e-Islami and even Al Qaeda. These outfits constantly carry out terrorist activities, including killing of anti-Pakistan leaders, on Pakistan’s behest. ISI is also involved in drug smuggling and the money generated from this smuggling is used to finance the terror outfits.
Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, after becoming President of Afghanistan in September 2014, wanted to inculcate friendly relations with Pakistan even at the cost of India. He was aware that without Pakistani assistance, it is difficult, if not impossible, to curb insurgency in his country.
Ghani went out of the way and even visited Pakistan Army Headquarters at Rawalpindi to meet then Pakistan Army chief General Raheel Sharif and requested him to control various terrorist outfits which were carrying out terrorist activities in Afghanistan on the behest of ISI, but General Sharif refused to help the visiting President.
After being disillusioned from Pakistan, Ghani turned towards India and, as an old friend, India rendered all kinds of assistance, including training and supply of armaments. Ghani was so annoyed with Pakistan’s undiplomatic behaviour that he even snubbed Pakistan openly at the Heart of Asia conference in Amritsar for instigating cross-border terrorism. He also refused to accept an assistance of $500 million and mentioned that this money can be used in controlling terrorism.
As Ghani acted against the perceived interests of Pakistan, ISI-sponsored Afghan Taliban enhanced their terrorist activities. On January 10, Taliban carried out twin blasts in which more than 30 persons were killed and 70 others wounded. The blasts occurred near the Parliament building which was constructed by Indian assistance and was inaugurated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in December 2015.
Taliban targeted a mini bus which was carrying the staff of Afghanistan’s prime intelligence agency National Directorate of Security (NDS). Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid immediately owned responsibility and boasted that the blasts were carried out according to their plan.
Taliban also claimed responsibility for another bomb blast that occurred in Helmand in a house used by NDS. In Helmand, seven people were killed and nine others were injured. In another bomb blast, at Kandahar, seven persons were killed and 18 others injured, including the Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates and the Governor of the province.
