Kashif Murad
The prolonged conflict in Afghanistan has induced many regional and global players to check dexterity in augmenting their strategic interests, thereby turning Afghanistan into a “chessboard for Great Game” . Afghanistan has been witnessing turmoil and instability since last two decades as the country is confronted with an unending “war of attrition” between the Afghan government in Kabul and un-subdued Afghan Taliban. Being an immediate neighbor, Pakistan has remained a most important stakeholder and vulnerable to the emanating dangers, strategic perils, cob- webbing scheming by the different stake holders and continued insinuations amid augmenting pressures to “do more”. Unfortunately, the adopted attitude of the world community in general and the USA in particular vis-à-vis Pakistan in “Afghan imbroglio” or “War on Terror”, has mostly remained sham and full of cosmetics if weighed with the supreme sacrifices, of all forms, rendered by Pakistan. Through continued evil scheming, sizable Afghan population has also been infected with a syndrome of so-called blinkered role of Pakistan or Pakistan phobia aimed at generating mongered malice between the public of both the countries. Escalation of tensions at Pak-Afghan border can also be viewed in the same context.
It is very unfortunate that few influential countries of the world community have failed to appreciate and acknowledge the role of Pakistan in supporting Afghanistan. Pakistan played a positive role in resolving the Afghan situation during cold war and post Taliban eras. Besides, exhibited its commitment during the whole Afghan peace process .It is a well known fact that the commitment and sincerity of Pakistan has never been reduced and got discouraged, despite of the negativity created by the anti -Pakistan elements inside and outside Afghanistan, who time to time orchestrated evil plans and even utilized Afghan soil against her interests. Pakistan has suffered serious implications, being sustained internally, regionally and globally due to the soft policies adopted towards Afghanistan and our Afghan brethren in the shape of hosting the Refugees. How can Afghanistan or Afghans could ever forget Pakistan’s generous accommodation of three million Afghan Refugees for the longest duration despite being financially a weak country and simmering security situations. Pakistan has always supported a peaceful, prosperous and progressing Afghanistan, which is also essential for the general development of Pakistan. The desire for peace in Afghanistan has been continuously expressed by our successive leadership and people of Pakistan at all levels, hence it would be unwise to think that Pakistan in any way is interested in destabilizing Afghanistan. It is also pertinent to mention here that, Pakistan remained the major Muslim donor country, contributing generously to finance socio-economic uplift of Afghanistan. Pakistan , so far, has spent over 385 Million $ for development, education and infrastructure building in Afghanistan. Present Government has also added more that 500 Million dollars to help in the progress and prosperity of Afghanistan. Besides, Afghan citizens are allowed to avail the same medical and education facilities in Pakistan as Pakistani Citizens.
Over 35,000 Afghans have graduated from various prestigious Pakistani universities and colleges and now form the backbone of state and non state owned services of Afghanistan. Even at present over 50,000 Afghan students are enrolled in various Pakistani schools and universities. Pakistan has also funded different educational institutions inside Afghanistan such as Allama Iqbal Faculty of Arts- Kabul University, Sir Syed Post Graduate Faculty of Sciences- Nangarhar University, Liaqat Ali Khan Engineering University- Bulkh, Rahman Baba School- Kabul and Rahman Baba Hostel- Kabul. Pakistan has helped Afghan government in developmental projects and roads infrastructure, including building of 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.
On the political front, Pakistan has always played a positive role in supporting the peace efforts . Afghan Peace and Reconciliation process is a reality despite of its slow pace and continual interruptions. The QCG served as a positive trajectory of constructive relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, but it also raised the alarms for our adversaries and the counter mechanism got activated to deface and distract the Pak -Afghan initiatives. In the backdrop of killing of Mulla Mansoor, the process has witnessed a serious halt with simmering tension at the Pak-Afghan border as well. Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan flared up when Kabul objected to the border fencing within the Pakistan territory citing “Durand Line issue”. Afghan troops even violated the rules and fired at Pakistani posts resulting in martyrdom of an officer of FC at Torkham. About 15,000 Afghans use Torkham every day. The border remained closed for around six days. Experts believe that the Durand Line issue has been kept alive deliberately by a few Afghan academics and politicians for achieving the nefarious design against Afghanistan and Pakistan on the behest of third hand. It is also quite surprising that Afghan intellectuals and scholars always tend to blindly support the anti Pakistan policies ,whereas Afghan governments have adopted the policy deliberately, to indulge the masses with an imaginary enemy and divert their attention from the internal security, political and economic issues of the country.
As Pakistan has to tackle the problem of terrorism emanating from Afghanistan, effective border management becomes imperative to control all infiltration. Moreover, effective border management would also facilitate both the countries to come out of syndrome of blame game. Pakistan and Afghanistan have previously suggested many initiatives to resolve their differences. However, as fast as these solutions had emerged they have disappeared due to lack of follow up. This could be attributed to a lack of trust between both sides. Therefore, it is imperative for both the countries to develop a framework for strategic dialogue, focusing on short, medium and long term solutions. Afghanistan and Pakistan have no other option but to cooperate and resolve their differences through political and diplomatic dialogue. Hence, both the countries need to join hands together to resolve their lingering irritants and issues, needing immediate attention prior any interference by third hand .
