Umair Arshad
An overview of the history of Afghanistan rulers , depicts that there had hardly been any Afghan central government, able to overall rule the country. Hence, practically Afghanistan had never been in such a situation; which is called peace. It has remained the hub of proxies and prolong wars. Some experts on the subject face a lot of criticism, who maintains the view that a federal system for Afghanistan might resolve the issue of peace decay and provide the prospect of a peaceful future for the people of Afghanistan. Certain think tanks on the subject suggest that looking deep down at the root causes of reaching at such a conclusion of a federal system for Afghanistan contains noticeable logic and due rationale. However, irrespective of type of the government, until and unless sincerity and loyalty towards the country is not present, all types of systems are liable to failures.
Now, analyzing the facts of Afghan history , it can easily be appreciated that up to the latest of all the invasions on Afghanistan , it had lived up to its expectations as the “Graveyard of empires”. However, it must be remembered that the title has not been achieved in isolation, there had been collective and unified efforts and approach behind shaping the history of Afghanistan and crowning of such titles. There had been numerous and countless sacrifices and contributions by the inhabitant ethnic Afghans. There is no doubt that there is a very prominent dominance of Afghan Pashtuns in Afghanistan, but unfortunately same is negated through constant political and social violations against them. It happens to be a coincidence that bulk of Afghan Taliban consists of Pashtuns, so there is a severe biasness towards the whole Pashtun community in Afghanistan. All Pashtuns should not be labeled as Afghan Taliban, but perhaps, either there is no respect for this fact or there is an intentional advancement by the foreign troops in negating and ignoring this day light fact, which is obviously deteriorating the ethnic harmony in Afghanistan. Based on the actions against the Pashtuns in Afghanistan by the Afghan National Amy (ANA),consisting mainly the remnants of former Northern Alliance, the divide of Pashtuns and non- Pashtuns has increased to the level of hatred .the trend has reached a very drastic point, where the afghan authorities have started doubts on most of the Pashtun to either be working for Afghan Taliban or Pakistan. On the other hand despite of having the leverage of the afghan refugees mostly afghan Pashtun living for decades in Pakistan, they have never been used against Afghanistan, but quite oppositely; Afghanistan while facilitating India, has been utilizing them against Pakistan.
Experts believe that until and unless the dynamics of ethnic equilibrium is not achieved in Afghanistan, there would be no peace and prosperity in Afghanistan. It would always remain in an embryonic stage for making a normal State. As it is witnessed by the world that prior to any constructive step of making the country ,as a normal State , some thing serious is created and the whole process gets nullified and a new cycle of making and breaking continues. In such a state of affairs , no country can flourish in a shape of a normal State. The US invasion on Afghanistan has not only increased the miseries of Afghan people but it has also disturbed the ethnic balance and broadened the cleavage between them to the point of isolation and breakage. The ethnic divide has become stronger and stronger due to ongoing siege and search operations in and around Kabul. The current dominance of Northern alliance elements or affiliates in Kabul, while negating a due share of ethnic dominant Pashtuns in the power and politics of Afghanistan is a key and main source of unrest and deterioration in Afghanistan’s overall peace and security. The US/ NATO forces have systematically and very wickedly attempted to widen the ethnic and religious gaps , already prevailing in Afghanistan. The way foreign troops with the help of the so called Afghan National Army(ANA), are committed in tarnishing the social and ethnic fibers of the Afghan society, is adding fuel to the existing divide of Pashtuns- non Pashtuns. Experts have reached to the conclusion that the Foreign troops are dividing them, seeds of hatred and mistrust have already been implanted and it will keep deteriorating till the time Foreign troops are present on Afghan soil. Now they are just taking their time ,when it would ripe and their evil design of chain reaction of creating mutual enmity inside and outside the country , having the potential of causing the desired negative effects in Afghanistan and the region would be at its full bloom. Probably, it would be the time when these foreign troops would be evacuating Afghanistan. Now, since the damage is being done by the Afghan National Army, as the foreign troops are no more conducting the operations and Afghan army is indigenously conducting and protecting their country, so now the whole blame is shouldered by them. It is very effectively working and spreading the desired impacts of the foreign troops of creating large ethnic divide and hence Afghanistan is in process of self destruction.
Now, this deterioration is very wickedly been blamed on Pakistan by carrying out irrational and thoroughly influenced steps against Pakistan, the recent attacks on Pakistani armed forces and civilians committed in the census, were intentionally targeted by Afghan forces, despite of the early communication by Pakistan concerned authorities to afghan government ,regarding the census team and their mandate of work. Afghanistan has compelled Pakistan to take strict actions, as earlier many times, Afghanistan has tested the will of Pakistan forces, who are committed for maintaining peace with Afghanistan, but this time on the India’s behest, Afghanistan has crossed all the limits, for which Pakistan conveyed its displeasure and reacted under a compelling circumstances of reaction; against Afghanistan. It is dire need of the hour that Afghanistan must devise her own policy based on national interests of Afghanistan not India, otherwise peace and prosperity in Afghanistan and beyond would be a mirage.
