Tackling the Afghan imbroglio

An Afghan delegation recently visited Pakistan to discuss the fresh attacks in Kabul which claimed several dozen lives. The delegation comprised Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani, Acting Defence Minister Syed Masoom Stanikzai and head of National Directorate of Security (NDS) Rehmantullah Nabil.
Before the arrival of the delegation, Kabul was rocked by a series of bomb explosions, whose blame was conveniently transferred to Pakistan. While the government in Kabul failed to present any evidence in this regard, rhetoric and past resentments overshadowed rationale and common sense.
Following the explosions, President Muhammad Ashraf Ghani accused Pakistan of supporting terrorism and said the decision of relations with Pakistan would be taken after the visit of the Afghan delegation to Pakistan. President Ghani alleged that some of the attacks in the Afghan capital were “designed and planned by terrorist groups in Pakistan.” He charged that “bomb-making factories and training camps” on Pakistani soil continue to send mercenaries across the border to kill Afghans. The statement was definitely startling and uncalled for.
Ghani was followed by Abdullah Abdullah, the Afghan Chief Executive, who also blamed Islamabad for the terrorist attacks in the Afghan capital.
Understandably, Islamabad strongly denied Ghani’s charges and reiterated that it wanted to counter terrorism and promote reconciliation with Kabul. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif stated he wanted “cordial and cooperative” ties with Afghanistan. However, it all fell on deaf ears. Unfortunately, on its return, the Afghan delegation also did not speak positively of Pakistan’s efforts for peace in the region.
Nevertheless, the dialogue and cooperation that has taken place between the two countries has been welcomed by the United States. US State Department spokesperson John Kirby said during a press briefing that Pakistan had suffered deeply as a result of the Taliban attacks in its country, while both Pakistani and Afghan soldiers had rendered sacrifices.
Generally speaking, one may ask where the Afghan government should go from here. It would be absolutely erroneous to blame Pakistan for the ills in Afghanistan. This will only create unpleasantness between the two countries. Also, the Afghan government should keep talking with Pakistan so that some of mistrust can be removed and should also discourage hawkish elements that are bent on sabotaging ties with Pakistan.
Moreover, it should be implicit that India has no strategic interests in Afghanistan and the Indian meddling in Pakistan through its consulates in Afghanistan has to be ended. Then there is the question of TTP terrorists responsible for killing schoolchildren in Peshawar and other deadly incidents in Pakistan; they should be handed over to Islamabad.
Looking to the future, it can be affirmed without doubt the recent Pakistan-Afghanistan rapprochement initiatives, along with the evolving Chinese role in Afghanistan for peace and economic development of that country, are positive steps and should be supported. The Ghani government should seek to build positive outcomes instead of falling into the trap of narrow-minded, knee jerk reactions to terrorism, which has enveloped the whole region.