KABUL: Afghan religious scholar from a cross Afghanistan comprising participants from all 34 provinces gathered in Kabul and issued a unified decree that Afghan soil will not use against any country including Pakistan.
As per the resolution of this religious conclave, a travel ban for Jihadis proposed and restricted the Afghan citizens outside from the country for Jihad propose.
According to Pakistan security sources, this conclave resolution is partially addressed Pakistan concerns of Afghan soil should not use against Pakistan. The sources further said that it will be little earlier to assess this move, but we need to wait and see the practical implementation of these proposed steps.
This Resolution is also a clear vindication of Pakistan’s approach to the issue and its diplomatic stance which was always based on high moral ground and from a position of strength.
Pakistan’s principled and consistent stance appears to have prompted this Conclave and it appears the Taliban Regime want to give a religious off ramp to their previous destructive and unsustainable policy. This religious edict will give them the face saving they need for a potential policy shift
In case the Taliban Regime follow through on this policy, it has the potential to bring long term stability to the restive border region and realize the economic potential.
The ‘proof is however in the pudding’ where the Taliban regime will have to ‘walk the talk’ through verifiable on ground mechanisms that ensure no cross border terrorism is taking place۔
Meanwhile a report claims that,the United States spent $14.4 billion over 20 years on rebuilding Afghanistan during the war, but billions in military equipment were left behind after the US and NATO withdrawal in 2021, a new report by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) revealed.
The report said more than $7 billion worth of weapons remain in Afghanistan and are now a key part of the Taliban’s defense infrastructure. Over 20 years, the US spent $31.2 billion on Afghan forces’ infrastructure, weaponry, and transport.
The Afghan National Security Forces received 96,000 ground combat vehicles, 51,000 light tactical vehicles, 23,825 high-mobility multipurpose vehicles, 900 armored vehicles, 427,000 firearms, over 17,000 night-vision helmets, and 162 aircraft. Before the Taliban takeover, 131 of 162 US-made warplanes were operational.
SIGAR noted that US taxpayers funded these weapons. The Taliban now control roughly 70% of the US-supplied military equipment.
Pakistan has raised concerns that the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) may have accessed these weapons. Pakistani authorities claim the Afghan Taliban supply advanced US-made arms to TTP, which they use in attacks inside Pakistan.
