THIS is with reference to the editorial `Peshawar meeting` (Jan 16), which emphasised the need for holding a dialogue with the Afghan Taliban through allavailable channelsto counter the looming threats posed by the Tehreek-iTaliban Pakistan (TTP). Some of the suggestions put forward in this regard require a carefulrethink.

One suggestion was that Pakistan could offer incentives to the Afghan Taliban to foster cooperation, such as promoting people-to-people contact, providing medical facilities, and removing barriers to Afghan transit trade. However, history shows us that similar strategies have never yielded the desired results.

For instance, the United States offered incentives to Pakistan to combat the Afghanistan-based Al Q aeda. Did it work? No, it did not. The primary reason was the deep-rooted ethnic and religious ties between the people of Pakistan and Afghanistan. The same dynamic applies today.

The Afghan Taliban have been providing moral, social and economic support to the TTP. Since its inception, TTP fugitives have found refuge in Afghanistan with the tacit support of the Afghan Taliban. This suggests that the TTP is not merely an independent entity, but a proxy of the Afghan Taliban.

Relying on the Afghan Taliban to counter the TTP risks further empowering TTP fugitives, potentially increasing their ability to carry out terrorist activities with ease.

Another suggestion in the editorial was to continue diplomatic relations with Afghanistan, ensuring that there is no vacuum left for other regional actors to fill. While fostering regional cooperation is a noble goal, this approach has historical parallels that should not be ignored.

In the 1980s, during the Cold War, Gen Ziaul Haq had opened Pakistan`s borders to Afghan refugees. As Hegel aptly said, `We learn from history that we do not learn from history.` That initiative, while well-intentioned, led to unintendedconsequences. It facilitated the spread of extremism, narcotics smuggling, and the proliferation of the Kalashnikov culture in Pakistan. Afghan refugees brought these social challenges to their host communities.

Recent efforts by the government to send Afghan refugees back to their homeland, and to secure the borders have shown positive results in reducing social crimes. Reversing these policies now could undo years of progress and reintroduce the risks Pakistan faced during the Cold War era.

While fostering cooperation with the Afghan Taliban is essential for regional stability, Pakistan must approach such initiatives with caution. Overreliance on the Afghan Taliban to counter TTP could have dire consequences, including strengthening the group`s terrorist activities, and reigniting social challenges within Pakistan. Instead, Pakistan must explore alternative strategies that align with its national security and socioeconomic interests. While regional bonhomie is essential, it should not come at the cost of Pakistan`s stability and security.

Muhammad Faisal Usta Muhammad