Cross Border Terrorism And Pakistan’s Intelligence-Based Operation In North Waziristan – OpEd

On September 26, 2024, Pakistani security forces conducted a successful intelligence-based operation (IBO) in the Razmak region of North Waziristan, killing eight terrorists.

Two of the dead were Afghan nationals, renewing worries about Afghanistan’s involvement in harbouring and assisting terrorists who constitute a direct danger to Pakistan’s security. This operation, while demonstrating Pakistan’s steadfast counter-terrorism tactics, has revealed increasingly disturbing linkages between terrorists operating in Pakistan and those in Afghanistan, most notably the Afghan Taliban.

The Details of the Operation

The IBO, which occurred on the night of September 25-26, 2024, was a decisive triumph for Pakistan’s security forces. The insurgents who opened fire on the forces were quickly eliminated in the subsequent shootout. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) verified the recovery of weapons and ammunition from terrorists who had been involved in a variety of violent acts, including assaults on Pakistani security personnel and civilian killings.

The identification of two Afghan nationals among the deceased terrorists is very interesting. One of them, Jalal bin Naimatullah, was from Bermal in Afghanistan’s Paktika region. Another fighter, Saifullah, Deen Faraz’s son, was an Afghan citizen and a member of the infamous Gul Bahadur gang, which has close connections to the terrorist organisation Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The discovery of Saifullah’s identity card, as well as an Afghan government-issued weapons permit, offered irrefutable proof of his Afghan heritage and lawful access to weapons in Afghanistan.

The Afghan Connection: A Growing Concern

The finding of Afghan nationals among the slain insurgents is not an exceptional occurrence. It adds to a growing collection of evidence that Pakistani troops have regularly discovered during counter-terrorism operations, indicating direct or indirect Afghan backing for these terrorists.

Over time, Pakistan’s military actions have considerably degraded the TTP organisation, which has long been connected with violent extremism in the region. However, the group’s remaining members have frequently sought safety across the border in Afghanistan, where they continue to regroup and plot strikes against Pakistan. Despite Pakistan’s repeated warnings and convincing proof, the Taliban leadership in Kabul has yet to take serious action against these organisations.

Islamabad has been particularly concerned about the connections between the Afghan Taliban and the TTP. The new operation reinforces these worries, as Saifullah’s involvement in the Gul Bahadur organisation demonstrates the ongoing coordination between Afghan-based elements and local terrorist groups in Pakistan. It is worth emphasising that the Gul Bahadur gang is a significant participant in the TTP network, which is responsible for several terrorist acts across Pakistan.

The Afghan government’s refusal to act against these organisations has hindered Pakistan’s efforts to restore calm in its western territories, particularly North Waziristan, which has experienced a revival of terrorist activity in recent years. Despite Pakistan’s multiple diplomatic efforts to persuade the Afghan Taliban to stop using their country as a launch pad for assaults, little has changed on the ground. Kabul continues to deny any involvement in assisting these extremists, frequently dismissing Pakistan’s security worries as domestic. 

The Broader Implications of Afghan Safe Havens

Pakistan’s fears about extremists establishing safe havens in Afghanistan are not unfounded. Since the Taliban took control of Kabul in August 2021, there has been a dramatic increase in cross-border violence. While the Taliban administration in Afghanistan has publicly sworn not to allow terrorists to utilise Afghan land, the reality on the ground has been very different.

The Afghan Taliban’s links to terrorist organisations, especially those responsible for strikes in Pakistan, are widely known. These militants frequently exploit the weak border between the two nations, sneaking into Afghanistan after committing assaults on Pakistani land. Despite its best efforts, Pakistan has been unable to adequately protect the border region because of its harsh terrain and complicated tribal dynamics.

The Pakistani military, under the guise of Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad, has successfully demolished much of the terrorist infrastructure within its borders. However, without collaboration from Afghanistan, these measures are like treating a symptom while the disease spreads across the border. Afghan safe havens allow terrorists to regroup, resupply, and plan fresh operations with relative impunity, hampering Pakistan’s counter-terrorism efforts.

International Implications and the Role of the Afghan Taliban

The international community must be aware of the changing dynamics in the area. The rise of terrorist activity in Pakistan, fuelled mostly by terrorists seeking refuge in Afghanistan, has far-reaching consequences for the region. Militant organisations like TTP have demonstrated a willingness to operate across borders, and their actions might easily spread to other regions of South Asia and beyond.

Furthermore, the Afghan Taliban’s apparent inability—or unwillingness—to control these organisations calls into doubt the Taliban regime’s legitimacy and responsibility. The international community, particularly neighbouring nations and global powers with a vested interest in regional stability must put pressure on the Afghan government to take decisive action against these organisations. Failure to do so risks Afghanistan becoming a hotbed for international terrorism again, eerily similar to the pre-9/11 era.

A Call for Action

The successful operation in Razmak is a big triumph for Pakistan, but it also highlights the larger issues presented by cross-border militancy. Afghanistan’s involvement in harbouring and assisting terrorist groups cannot be overlooked, and Kabul must take decisive action against these forces. Until then, Pakistan’s security forces will stay watchful, ready to protect the country against any attack, but the international community must move forward to address the underlying causes of this long-running conflict.