ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Special Representative on Afghanistan Ambassador Asif Durrani on Wednesday stressed the need for Kabul to address issues relating to cross-border terrorism, saying both countries were bound in a symbiotic relationship and had suffered together in the last four decades.

He was speaking at the launch of the book titled ‘The Return of the Taliban: International and Regional Perspectives,’ which was edited by Amina Khan, the director at Centre for Afghanistan, Middle East and Africa (CAMEA) at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI).

The book includes individual chapters from scholars, experts and practitioners from Pakistan, China, Russia, Iran, Central Asian Republics, Gulf states, Japan, Europe, US and Afghanistan.

Among the experts who spoke at the event were former minister of education, Afghanistan, Rangina Hamidi, journalist and analyst Zahid Hussain and non-resident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s South Asia Centre, Washington, Ambassador Omar Samad.

Ambassador Asif Durrani, who was the chief guest on the occasion, said the book was a breath of fresh air for scholars searching for intellectual inputs about Afghanistan. He said individual contributions of scholars on Afghanistan and the region offered a better insight into the governance aspects of the country since the Afghan Taliban took over in 2021.

He said valuable insights by the authors on terrorism should help policymakers and security community to tailor their responses.

Rangina Hamidi spoke about the importance of education for both boys and girls and regretted the restrictions imposed by the Afghan Taliban on girl education and women rights.

She appreciated the diverse perspectives in the book and stated that although the Taliban had not changed, the international community should promote engagement as there was no alternative and no military solution.

Ambassador Omar Samad said Afghanistan was a multi-ethnic society, a geostrategic linchpin, a resilient and unconquerable land, a proxy battlefield and a crossroad for trade and movement of people and ideas over the centuries. He said it was therefore incumbent on the current Afghan setup to seek stability and prosperity.

Zahid Hussain said the book’s timing was ideal, given the Taliban’s unexpected return to power after 20 years of war.

He said despite the fact that there were legitimate concerns regarding women’s education and human rights, the Taliban now fully controlled Afghanistan and were not isolated despite lacking formal recognition.

He stressed the need for Afghanistan and Pakistan to work together, particularly on issues like the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), adding that the Afghan Taliban must evolve internally to gain international recognition.

ISSI Director General Ambassador Sohail Mahmood Pakistan had always stressed that a peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan was in its interest, and that regional economic integration and connectivity would greatly benefit Afghanistan, Pakistan and the broader region.

“For this to materialise, however, sustainable peace remains an indispensable requirement. The interim government in Kabul needs to abide by the pledges they made in Doha, relating to inclusivity, respect for the rights of all Afghans, and above all, not allowing its territory to be used against any country,” he added.

He said the Afghan side must address Pakistan’s specific concerns relating to terrorism, in an effective, credible and sustainable manner.

Amina Khan said over the past three years, the Taliban’s governing structure had evolved and taken shape into what could be defined as an authoritarian yet selectively pragmatic governing style.

Chairman Board of Governors, ISSI, Ambassador Khalid Mahmood was of the view that the book gave several perspectives, giving a holistic picture of Afghanistan and was a valuable addition to the current discourse.

Published in Dawn, August 29th, 2024