Mr. Yusuf, where do you see the greatest challenges for Pakistan’s security?
In his neighbors. Pakistan borders Afghanistan and Iran to the west, two internationally isolated countries. India is waiting in the east, our main opponent because of the Kashmir conflict. And to the north is China, the only neighbor we get along with.
Domestically, the consequences of the Afghan war have hit us hard. The Pakistani Taliban (TTP) formed against us because we had supported the West in the fight against terror. This developed into an existential threat to our country, but we fought it successfully. Currently, however, the TTP are reappearing from Afghanistan.
Just a few years ago, it seemed as if Pakistan had gotten terrorism under control, but now the attacks are increasing again. Has the government lost control of the situation?
The violence in the country is limited to the border regions with Afghanistan and Iran, especially in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Pakistan’s fight against terrorism has made great progress and the population is united in opposing terrorism. I see no possibility for the Pakistani Taliban to conquer areas in the country.
Has the Taliban victory in Afghanistan changed the situation?
While the two groups are different, I believe the TTP were emboldened and buoyed by the Afghan Taliban victory. They are able to carry out individual attacks and unfortunately this will not change overnight, but they no longer pose a large-scale threat.
Our stability is also based on the stability of Afghanistan.
Moeed Yusuf, former security adviser to the Prime Minister of Pakistan
How good is the relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan right now?
It’s always been very complicated. The Taliban have long been called Pakistan’s proxies, but that’s just plain wrong. Afghanistan is our largest trading partner and we want to live peacefully together as neighbors. Our stability also rests on the stability of Afghanistan.
Pakistan’s government is currently negotiating with Afghanistan to persuade the TTP to surrender. What are your hopes for these talks?
So far they haven’t done much. Yet they must move on, because Afghanistan will remain our neighbor even if the rest of the world turns its back on the region. Incidentally, I question the West’s strategy of isolation from the Taliban. We cannot afford Afghanistan to collapse – neither here nor anywhere else.
Pakistan’s biggest concern is the economic situation
Moeed Yusuf
Could you do that?
If Afghanistan collapses, there will be a new wave of refugees. Millions of people will flee first to Pakistan and then to Germany, Europe and other continents. IS has carried out several attacks in Afghanistan since the Taliban won. If we continue to ignore the situation in the country, international terrorism will return and target Pakistan and the West. Germany is also called upon to find solutions here.
How can the international community support Pakistan?
Our biggest concern is the economy, not terrorism. The international community can best support Pakistan through investments. And since we don’t believe in camp politics, we are closely linked to both China and the West. When companies pull out of China, we stand ready to fill the gap.
Everyone is talking about climate protection, but it’s us who have to pick the cake.
Moeed Yusuf
Why should the West invest in Pakistan when the security situation remains tense and Afghanistan is not promising any aid?
I am not calling for ignoring security issues in Pakistan, but we should focus much more on economic issues. Because economic prosperity also enables a better security situation.
Is Pakistan sufficiently recognized internationally? Even last year’s devastating flood did not have much media coverage.
The world cannot afford to neglect Pakistan as a nuclear power and geopolitical partner. But we are indeed enormously affected by climate change, although our part in it is very small. Everyone is talking about climate protection, but it’s us who have to pick the cake. Because of the price increases, Pakistan is also affected by the Ukraine war. If you then add Afghanistan and the climate crisis, you have something like a super meltdown. We need more support.
How can Pakistan better assert itself internationally in the future?
First of all, we have to put our own house in order and stabilize the country politically. We need to network in the region instead of fighting conflicts. We want peace with India, but the current developments there do not allow that. We must also strengthen the economy in Pakistan. Because if we don’t manage to take care of our most vulnerable in the country, it will provide the breeding ground for crime and violence. The more reliable partners like Germany that support us, the better.
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