Britain’s all-party parliamentary group (APPG) on the Indo-Pacific region has raised serious concern over the possibility of the Taliban allowing terrorist training camps to spring up in Afghanistan due to pressure from the “the deep state of neighbouring Pakistan” and other Islamist terror groups such as the LeT and JeM.

The “deep state” reference is to the notorious Inter- Services Intelligence wing of the Pakistan army which is active in Afghanistan and has played a key role in helping the Talban take over the country.

The British MPs cutting across party lines have in a statement warned that this could lead to an increase in the recruitment of Islamic extremists in the name of jihad.

“India in particular is concerned about any impact of the Afghan fallout on the rise in terrorism in Jammu & Kashmir,” the APPG statement points out.

The parliamentary group has urged India, the UK, the USA and other like-minded democracies to formulate a collective mid to long-term response to the fallout of the Taliban takeover in order to prevent disastrous consequences for peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region.

The APPG has called on the world community not to release funding for Afghanistan until there is a concrete commitment from the Taliban regime to honour the principles of democratic governance.

“There should be diplomatic pressure on the Taliban, as they seek some sort of recognition from the world community, to work with other stakeholders to decide the future of the Afghan people,” the statement suggests.

The fears of the British MPs appear to be well-founded as resistance fighters still battling the Taliban forces are also saying that Pakistan is playing a major role in the Taliban assault on the Panjshir Valley.

Similarly, ousted president Ashraf Ghani had in one of his last conversations with US President Joe Biden, before the fall of Kabul, pointed out that Pakistan was supporting the Taliban offensive logistically as well as through military planning.

Even when the US troops were present in Afghanistan, the Taliban and other extremist groups had found a safe haven in adjoining Pakistan and their injured fighters were treated in Pakistani hospitals.  Consequently, Pakistan enjoys formidable clout with the Taliban leadership and Islamabad is expected to use this to advance its own agenda against India.

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