Mohammad Jamil
Days after a US drone strike killed Mullah Akhtar Mansour, President Barack Obama had admitted that hopes of a negotiated settlement with the Taliban were ‘swiftly fading’. Speaking to reporters in Japan where he was meeting with other G7 leaders, the US president warned that the insurgent group will continue killing in Afghanistan. Before dwelling on the adverse impacts of drones’ attacks, it has to be mentioned that these are clear violation of international laws and open act of aggression and showing utter disregard to sovereignty and territorial integrity of Pakistan. Collateral damage caused by drone attacks is also clear violation of international human rights, and stir retaliatory sentiment among victims and perpetuate extremist wave. Noshki drone attack showed a trust deficit of US on its allies, which has spoiled peace process. Such acts belie the desire for dialogue process.
One would question the wisdom of US administration when on one hand it demanded of Pakistan to support dialogue and on the other targeted and killed Mullah Mansour, putting Pakistan into a difficult position. Is not betrayal to the peace process? To add to the confusion, American leaders have been conveying an impression that drone attacks were carried out with the nod from Pakistan government. Such statements paint Pakistan government, military and intelligence agencies in bad light. In keeping with desire and aspirations of the people, Pakistan’s political and military leaderships are on the same page so far as the revulsion against drone strikes is concerned. They have repeatedly asserted that unilateral drone strikes have proved counter-productive and result in stoking anti-American feelings also. For quite some time, civil liberties groups have been criticizing the drone program stating it is a tantamount to waging war without declaring the war.
The problem is that the US, its allies and Afghan government do not understand the eidetic reality that more than 130000 US and NATO forces, and 200000 Afghan force and police have not been able to defeat the Taliban. Today the Taliban is running a parallel government in Afghanistan, and have their own legal system in the areas they control. The Taliban leadership is basically located in Afghanistan and exercising strict control in most parts of Afghanistan. It leaders may be travelling some time as Mullah Mansour had gone to Iran and other places, but they are based in Afghanistan. Some of them could have visited Pakistan under the garb of Afghan refugees for medical treatment, but remain operational in Afghanistan, because if they stay away how could they give tough time to the US and Afghan forces? Anyhow, early return of Afghan refugees and better border management/control is essential.
To add to the already complex situation, India has been doing everything possible to create mistrust between Pakistan and Afghanistan, and is investing in Afghanistan to undermine the relationship between two brotherly countries to advance its nefarious agenda at the cost of the interests of Afghanistan public. For the last fifteen years, foreign-funded NGOs and media have been spearheading the sinister campaign to malign Pakistan for any ills and malaises inside Afghanistan to poison the minds of people of Afghanistan against Pakistan. It has to be mentioned that Pakistan is the largest Muslim donor country to Afghanistan, despite the fact that Pakistan itself is suffering from the economic fallout of ongoing war on terror in Afghanistan. Pakistan has, so far, spent over $385 million for the development, education and infrastructure building in Afghanistan.
Present Government has added over $500 million more to this list for development in Afghanistan, as peace and prosperity of Afghanistan is an indispensable condition for peace and development in Pakistan. It is a matter of record that Pakistan rendered many sacrifices when it stood by the Afghans in Afghan Jihad against the former USSR and hosted record number of over 3 million refugees for longest duration despite its own weak economic condition. Afghan citizens are allowed to avail medical and education facilities in Pakistan at par with the Pakistani Citizens. Pakistan has funded different educational institutions inside Afghanistan such as Allama Iqbal Faculty of Arts- Kabul University, Sir Syed Post Graduate Faculty of Sciences- Nangarhar University, Liaquat Ali Khan Engineering University-Bulkh, Rahman Baba School- Kabul and Rahman Baba Hostel in Kabul. Pakistan has helped Afghan government in developmental projects and roads infrastructure in Afghanistan.
The construction of roads include 75 kilometers Torkham-Jalalabad road, additional carriage way on Torkham-Jalalabad road, three internal roads in Jalalabad, digital radio link between Kabul and Peshawar. In addition, Pakistan has also given around 100 public transport buses and 200 trucks to the government of Afghanistan for the welfare of Afghan public. Yet, President Ashraf Ghani while addressing a joint session of the Afghan parliament on 25th April 2016 strongly condemned the attack in Kabul, which killed at least 64 Afghans and wounded 347 others. He accused the Haqqani militant group and some Taliban factions of working for the objectives of foreigners. Anyhow, President Ashraf Ghani in his address to the Parliament had said: “There are no good and bad terrorists; all insurgents are terrorists. Pakistan must act like a responsible nation in the fight against terrorism and our stance is fully backed on an international level.”
By the same token, Afghan government should also act like a responsible nation and shun this distinction. Mullah Fazlullah of Tehrik-e-Pakistan Taliban (TTP) and his thugs are ensconced in Kunar and Nooristan, and Afghan government did not arrest them despite the promises that they would be arrested and handed over to Pakistan. Former president Hamid Karzai used to blame Pakistan for failures of his government as well as of the US and NATO forces – the best fighting machine in the world – who could not rein in the Taliban during 14 years. They resorted to ruses and subterfuges to paint Pakistan in ignoble color. After Mullah Mansour was killed in drone attack, the US said: “Mullah Mansour had refused to participate in peace talks with the Afghan government, and intensified fighting since he officially took control in July after Omar’s death.” But it is a blatant lie to justify the drone attack.
