On the night of December 24, Pakistan conducted a successful airstrike in Afghanistan’s Paktika province, targeting extremist hideouts in the Bermal region. This intelligence-based operation eliminated key terrorists, including masterminds of suicide attacks responsible for countless innocent lives lost in Pakistan. Interestingly, the Afghan Taliban leadership’s silence on this matter speaks volumes, revealing a pragmatic stance rooted in their national priorities.
According to sources within the Afghan Taliban, those targeted were Pakistani nationals who had sought refuge in Afghanistan. This acknowledgment indicates that the Afghan Taliban sees no reason to mourn their demise.
In fact, their neutrality in this matter aligns with their broader objectives, as these groups posed a liability even for Afghanistan.
This pragmatic approach also exposes the hollowness of the “Lar o Bar Yaw Afghan” slogan, which some factions use to manipulate narratives around Pashtun unity.
The operation underscores a critical distinction in Afghan-Taliban ideology. Their emphasis on Afghan or Pakistani identity, rather than a unified Pashtun nationalism, highlights that the so-called “Pashtun unity” slogan is often a political tool wielded by opportunistic actors.
This becomes evident in the contrasting behavior of groups like the PTM, which use such rhetoric to incite unrest in Pakistan while aligning with narratives that suit their agenda.
When faced with real-world consequences, the Afghan Taliban’s silence and tacit approval of Pakistan’s actions reveal their priorities.
Terrorist proxies, such as the extremist factions eliminated in this strike, were merely pawns in a larger game. Their destruction brings no loss to the Taliban but rather stabilizes their position.
This development also raises important questions about groups like the PTM, which persistently invoke these slogans to rally dissent against the state.
Are they too leveraging this rhetoric for their own interests, similar to the Afghan Taliban’s political maneuvering? The alignment of interests between such actors casts doubt on their authenticity and reveals a shared pattern of exploitation.
The Afghan Taliban’s quiet acceptance of Pakistan’s strike not only unravels their stance on extremism but also underscores Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to regional stability.
This operation exemplifies how decisive actions can debunk hollow slogans and expose the agendas behind them. It serves as a wake-up call for all factions using empty rhetoric to mislead the public, reaffirming the importance of pragmatic measures in securing peace and stability for the region.
