Chapter 2 continues…

This decision, however, did not signal a complete turnaround in Pakistan’s policy of supporting the Taliban. It merely added a facet to Pakistan’s complex policy of supporting both sides of the conflict for its own gain, thereby creating a dual strategy that it continues to follow. In the post-9/11 period, Islamabad professed its commitment to peace and stability in Afghanistan but at the same time continues to support groups like the Taliban and the Haqqani Network, considering them to be ‘strategic assets’ that could safeguard Pakistan’s interests.

When the coalition forces moved into Afghanistan in 2001, the attack came from the northern part of the country so as to sandwich al Qaeda and the Taliban. This, obviously, meant that the border with Pakistan had to be sealed to not allow the militants to flee from Afghanistan. However, two routes in Waziristan, Miranshah and Mir Ali, were left open.

The fleeing Taliban leaders were given safe passage and safe houses in different parts of the country including Peshawar, Karachi and Lahore. The Taliban leadership was given a special sanctuary in Quetta, a key Army Corps Headquarters (HQ), which gave birth to the nomenclature of Quetta Shura to identify the Mullah Omar-led Taliban. They were helped by the army to stock up on satellite phones, trucks and other vehicles, weapons and ammunition.

The Taliban leadership remained in Quetta for years before the US began its drone campaign targeting them. Fearing elimination by US forces, the Pakistani Army persuaded the leadership to disperse to either difficult and isolated terrain like North Waziristan controlled by the Haqqani network, or urban centres like Karachi to blend in with the dense population. But when the activities of the ISI and the army came under closer scrutiny by different intelligence agencies, the army created a parallel, shadow group of former ISI and army officers and men to support the Taliban surge in Afghanistan. It is this ‘S Wing’ of the ISI, which has planned, executed and monitored the Taliban’s operations in Afghanistan in the past decade.

To be continued…