Muhammad Haseenullah
For Pakistan, the latest wave of terror is more than a security challenge, it is a painful reminder of betrayal from those once called “brothers.” The suicide bombing in Islamabad, the attack on Wana Cadet College, and recurring ambushes across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s southern belt have once again laid bare a harsh truth: Pakistan stands nearly alone in a fight that is not just for its borders, and for its survival, but also for the regional peace and stability.
Pakistan has spent four decades hosting millions of Afghans, sheltering them in times of war, famine, and displacement. Islamabad’s streets, schools, and hospitals have long borne the weight of this hospitality. Yet, the Afghan Taliban’s response to Pakistan’s current suffering has been nothing short of shocking. When the entire world; from China and Russia to the United States and France, condemned the Islamabad suicide bombing, Kabul’s silence was deafening. Only after considerable criticism did a half-hearted statement appear, one that seemed more a diplomatic formality than a gesture of solidarity.
A Bitter Irony
This silence is not accidental; it reflects a deeper attitude of denial and duplicity. Pakistan has been asking the Taliban for one simple thing, moral clarity. If they truly claim to uphold Islam, why can they not declare the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) what it is: a terrorist outfit responsible for murdering innocent Pakistanis, clerics, soldiers, and schoolchildren alike? Instead, the Taliban leadership hides behind excuses and theological acrobatics, refusing to call the TTP’s war illegitimate or un-Islamic.
Their refusal is not just moral cowardice; it is political betrayal. By shielding the TTP, the Taliban are helping perpetuate a campaign of terror that has already devastated Pakistan’s tribal districts. Towns like Bannu, Tank, and South Waziristan remain under constant fire. These areas, already struggling with poverty and displacement, are paying the highest price for Kabul’s hypocrisy.
The Unforgiving Reality
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was right when he told the National Assembly that Pakistan’s forty years of generosity have been repaid with deceit. His warning that “terrorists have once again tried to open the markets of blood in Wana” speaks volumes about the persistence of the threat. Security forces, by all accounts, responded with extraordinary courage, neutralising attackers and saving cadets from certain death.
It is also worth noting that many of these militants had direct links to Afghanistan. This is not speculation; it is an established fact confirmed by Pakistan’s intelligence agencies and reflected in the patterns of recent attacks. The presence of Afghan nationals among the terrorists involved in incidents across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cannot be brushed aside as coincidence.
Unity in Parliament, Unity Against Terror
Despite fierce political rivalries, the passage of the 27th Constitutional Amendment in the National Assembly underscored a rare moment of consensus. Lawmakers across party lines, from Shehbaz Sharif to Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, reminded the nation that terrorism can only be defeated when Pakistan speaks with one voice. Bilawal’s remarks were particularly poignant: “The terrorists are raising their heads again, but we will defeat them as we did before.”
That spirit of defiance, rather than despair, is Pakistan’s strongest weapon. The debate inside the parliament was not just about constitutional reform, it was about reaffirming civilian resolve in the face of a renewed wave of terror.
A Test of Faith and Friendship
The Taliban’s refusal to act against the TTP, or even to condemn its atrocities, has exposed their moral and political bankruptcy. They owe their very existence to decades of Pakistani sacrifice; yet, today, they refuse to call out the killers of Pakistan’s own citizens. Their actions raise a question that Pakistan can no longer afford to ignore: are these truly our brothers in faith, or partners in deceit?
Pakistan has shown patience, restraint, and goodwill. But patience cannot be infinite. The world now sees clearly who is standing with Pakistan in this war, and who is silently aiding its enemies.
If the Taliban cannot find the courage to stand with Pakistan against terror, then they must also accept that Pakistan will no longer stand alone, nor stay silent, against their duplicity.
