News analysis: Pakistan PM's tough message mounts pressure on Afghan Taliban

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif adopted a tough stance in his day-long visit to Kabul on Tuesday against the recent spike in violence in Afghanistan and openly condemned the Taliban's so-called "Spring Offensive."

The prime minister's comments came after the Taliban has stepped up attacks in parts of Afghanistan since they launched their operations codenamed "Azm" (resolve) last month as the weather in the neighboring country's warms up. The Taliban also expanded their operations in the northern parts of Afghanistan. "We strongly condemn an increase in violence and the Operation Azm offensive by the Afghan Taliban. Continuation of such an offensive and attacks will be construed as terrorist acts and we condemn such attacks in the strongest terms," Sharif said in a rare comment at a joint news conference with President Ashraf Ghani in Kabul on May 12.

Sharif, who led a high-level delegation in his second visit to Kabul in two years, also categorically said any effort by any militant or group to destabilize Afghanistan will be dealt with severely and such elements will be outlawed and hunted down.

The army chief, General Raheel Sharif, was also part of the leader's entourage to convey a message that the military and civilian leaders are united to push for the peace process in Afghanistan.

In his meeting with Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, the Pakistani prime minister said the Taliban and other militant groups have no other option but to shun violence, Abdullah's office said.

The strong-worded statement by Nawaz Sharif came amid the Taliban's refusal to join the intra-Afghan dialogue. Pakistan and other friendly countries were encouraging the Afghan armed groups to sit with the Afghan government to explore a negotiated settlement. However, the Taliban have not shown any flexibility in their stubborn behavior that has annoyed everyone.

Sharif's public condemnation is a clear message to the Taliban to give up violence and is also seen as a show of sympathy with the Afghan government and its forces battling the Taliban.

Afghanistan and other major players believe Pakistan has an influence on the Taliban and can bring them to the negotiation table. However, the Taliban are reluctant to join the peace process stating that foreign troops have not yet completely left Afghanistan and that they will continue what they call their " holy war." However, the Taliban attacks are mostly focused on Afghanistan's own forces and government officials.

Pakistan's top military and civilian leaders had reportedly assured Afghanistan to extend help in the fragile peace process, and Kabul was expecting practical steps to be taken. Sources privy to the Taliban consultations say the Taliban had discussed the issue of the peace talks but the majority have not supported the idea.

In a series of meetings with the Afghan officials in Pakistan, they argued that Kabul would expect action against the Taliban if they continue their war and reject the reconciliation process.

As security cooperation between Pakistan and Afghanistan has improved in recent months, the prime minister hinted at action against the Afghan Taliban if they did not stop the violence. Any such action will mount pressure on the Taliban and its ally the Haqqani Network to review their policies.

Pakistani forces have already uprooted the Haqqani Network from the North Waziristan tribal region and a similar action against the Afghan Taliban cannot be ruled out. Any such action is likely to give a further boost to the Pak-Afghan security cooperation to jointly fight the militants in their border regions. Endi