Pakistan needs to take pre-emptive measures along Pak-Afghan border to avert potential infiltration of Daesh into the country via the porous border along Afghanistan's Nangarhar province where the terror network has reportedly established recruitment camps and a radio network, analysts warned. Reports of Daesh presence in Afghanistan emerged early this year in southern Helmand province, with some of Daesh recruiters killed in a US drone strike in February.
More recently, reports have surfaced that Daesh, also known as Islamic State (IS), has established recruitment and training camps in Nangarhar province of Afghanistan; the network is believed to have ambitions of establishing the provincial capital Jalalabad as its base in Khorasan, an ancient province of the Persian Empire that included territories in today's Afghanistan, Iran and some Central Asian states.
To spread its propaganda campaign and persuade the locals, the Afghan branch of Daesh has set up a radio station in Nangarhar, calling it "Radio Caliphate", which broadcasts at least one hour a day to attract young Afghans. Though Pakistan has repeatedly rejected the presence of Daesh in the country, yet analysts believe that it is necessary to keep a vigilant eye on the emerging Daesh threat, as Nangarhar province is located close to the mountainous Tora Bora area along Pakistan's border with Afghanistan.
Amir Rana, Director Pakistan Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS), said that though Pakistan has already taken pre-emptive measures like enhancing security on the border and eliminating terrorist networks, yet extra vigilance is necessary to keep a check over the possible infiltration of the terrorist network into the country.
He also emphasized the need for effective co-ordination between Pakistan and Afghanistan to thwart the emerging threat of Daesh in both the countries. He pointed out that during Army Chief General Raheel Sharif's Sunday visit to Kabul the two countries pledged security cooperation, besides stepping up efforts for the restoration of peace in Afghanistan.
"This is encouraging that the two countries are now co-operating with each other and it should continue in future as well so that the two neighbours can get rid of the common challenge of terrorism," he further underscored.
Referring to Daesh's reported recruitment, training camps and radio station in Nangarhar province, he said that at present, Daesh does not have any ambition to establish its network in Pakistan but if effective measures are not taken, the terrorist network could pose a serious threat to Pakistan's security and stability as well. To a question about alienating Daesh ideologically, he said it was a difficult task but there was a need to focus efforts on completely eliminating the terror network in the region at this stage. Security analyst Brigadier Asad Munir (Retd) said that at present, there was no immediate threat to Pakistan, as those claiming to be Daesh operatives in Afghanistan are elements belonging to splintered Taliban groups or local people inspired by Daesh ideology. "But we have to be very alert to avert any possible attack of the group claiming itself as the regional chapter of Daesh and which has reportedly set up camps across the border," he said, adding the group has the potential to carry out small scale terror attacks.
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