In his victory speech, Imran Khan replaced his usual aggressive rhetoric with a conciliatory tone toward his political rivals, and sent a positive message about mending ties with Afghanistan, India and the US.
Khan, 65, was a changed man soon after it emerged that his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), was heading for victory in the July 25 general election. He was going to be the next prime minister and needed to act responsibly, not only to reassure his own people, but also the US and certain neighboring countries that had concerns about his perceived softness toward militant groups such as the Taliban, and about his critical views on the war on terror.
Though he also spoke of the need to further strengthen relations with Pakistan’s old friend China, and of facilitating reconciliation between Iran and Saudi Arabia, Khan focused on the urgency of bringing peace to Afghanistan. Arguing that peace in Pakistan is linked to peace in Afghanistan, he said his government will do its utmost to bring peace to his country’s neighbor by first holding talks to mend bilateral ties.
One surprising aspect of Khan’s speech was his wish to have open borders with Afghanistan along the lines of the EU. Presently, Pakistan’s military-dictated policy is to have closed borders with Afghanistan. For more than a year now, Pakistan has been busy fencing the 2,500-km-long Durand Line border to make it difficult for terrorists, smugglers and even common Afghans to enter the country.
The costly border-management measures have been criticized by Kabul, but Islamabad is adamant that this is necessary for the security of both countries. Unlike in the past, Afghans and Pakistanis now need a visa to cross the border. Along with other factors, the stricter border controls have reduced bilateral trade, which has traditionally been in Pakistan’s favor.
Khan will need to consult the powerful military and seek its input while considering changes in Pakistan’s existing Afghan policy.
Rahimullah Yusufzai
If Khan is sincere and able to make good on his promise to improve relations with Afghanistan, his government will not have to start afresh as the two countries are already actively engaged in a renewed effort to mend ties. The Afghanistan-Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity (APAPPS), made operational in May 2018, is already in place. APAPPS, which has set up working groups to focus on a host of issues, has contributed to defusing tensions.
Khan will need to consult the powerful military and seek its input while considering changes in Pakistan’s existing Afghan policy, or for that matter reviewing the whole gamut of foreign relations. The military has traditionally played a key role in the security aspects of policies concerning Kashmir, India, Afghanistan, the US and Pakistan’s nuclear program. It is also concerned about arch-rival India’s growing influence in Afghanistan.
Khan has gradually moved closer to the military’s thinking on these issues, having been critical of its role in the past. This is pragmatic politics in a country that has been ruled by the military for nearly half its life since independence in 1947.
Any improvement in Pakistani-Afghan relations would contribute to removing irritants in Pakistan’s ties with the US, which has to maintain troops in Afghanistan and provide military and economic assistance to the Afghan government to keep it in power in the face of relentless Taliban attacks.
The US needs Pakistan’s land routes to supply NATO troops in Afghanistan, even though the dependence has decreased due to the drawdown of coalition forces in December 2014. Pakistani-US relations have remained strained, more so under the Trump administration, due to Washington’s accusations that the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani network are allowed to operate from Pakistan to target US-led NATO and Afghan forces. Islamabad has consistently issued denials, and alleged that the presence of safe havens for Pakistani militants in Afghanistan poses a threat to its national security.
Khan was once known for his anti-American rhetoric, and had even threatened during the 2013 election campaign that upon coming to power, he would order the shooting down of US drones launching attacks in Pakistan.
He led a march against the drone strikes, tried to justify the Afghan Taliban’s fight in Afghanistan, and advocated peace talks with the Pakistani Taliban. He has toned down that kind of rhetoric. One can expect him to become even more pragmatic after taking charge as prime minister.
– Rahimullah Yusufzai is a senior political and security analyst. He was the first to interview Taliban founder Mullah Mohammad Omar, and twice interviewed Osama bin Laden in 1998. Twitter: @rahimyusufzai1