ABDULLAH MUSTAFVI
Chaman Border skirmish is a clear indicator of highly complex security challenge gradually encircling Pakistan. We share border with four countries India, Afghanistan, Iran and China. Three out of four neighbors have adopted a harsh stance with different radiating scales. Afghan shelling at census team and civilians in Chaman is equally unjustified and mala fide. Though befitting response was delivered and hostility was beaten back with requisite strength but no one here at Pakistan side really feels any thing good about it. Despite obvious tilt of Afghan ruling elite towards India, no Pakistani desires to target Afghan citizens. What all happened at Chaman border was bitter, unpleasant and unavoidable. Fault rests at the shoulders of Afghan rulers who are not pushed about absolute lack of writ in Afghan territory but opted to attack on census teams for a self created border dispute which could be resolved through multiple diplomatic channels. Only a fool will believe that Chaman attack was aimed to regain the Afghan territory from Pakistan. A message has been sent to Pakistan that high profile visits of parliamentarians and uniformed officials would not succeed in repairing the relations with Afghanistan. Indian hand is visible in this vicious game. We know that president Ashraf Ghani is not more than a ceremonial figure who must not be having any prior information about Chaman border misadventure. Afghan areas bordering Bajaur, Mohmand and Khyber Agencies are posing a persistent threat to Pak border posts. Eastern border LOC violations from India have become a routine and over a period of time a dangerous insensitivity has crept in our collective response to such serious breeches of our security. Alongside these two hostile borders, Iran is now contributing her share by unnecessarily escalating the negligible border issues. Alarmingly, there is a hidden but undeniable Indian linkage to certain anti Pakistan moves taking place in Iran. Khal Bhosan Jadhave net work was being operated from Iranian soil. Likewise, Uzair Baloch have also divulged the details about the terror net work having venomous roots deeply spread from Karachi to Iran. Indian funding to Chah Bahar Port project and its railway linkage to Bamian was an understandable move at regional chessboard. Such moves clearly exposed Iranian unannounced state of competition with Gawadar Port project. Iran precisely know the true nature of our ongoing tension with India and Afghanistan. An open worded threat to attack miscreants’ havens at Pak soil cannot be delinked with recent unpleasant regional developments. Iran has been silently moving the strings of multiple dubious characters in Afghanistan as evident from various past visits of Mullah Akhtar Mansoor, including his last one which ended up with an American drone strike, and prolonged stay of Gulbadeen Hikmat Yar who has recently resurfaced on Afghan canvas. American designs have become open and clear with recent request of her military commanders to increase the number with additional military boots on ground. It is about time to clearly talk with all regional stake holders by emphasizing upon our red lines. Probably our ruling elite is not ready for this task due to multiple shortcomings. It is not difficult to understand that hostilities at our three borders have a common factor of Indian hand. We need a cautious head at shoulders while dealing with Iran which has a long history of interference in neighboring countries. Sectarian proxies in the Muslim world are the poisonous gifts of KSA and Iran. By the stroke of luck, we have to deal with both simultaneously at this confusing moment. Iran has been actively sponsoring militants in Syria, Yemen, Bahrain, Lebanon and Iraq. Her sectarian bias and active sponsorship to the militants of SeM was unearthed in Pakistan too. Our response to such discoveries has always remained pathetically apologetic and low. Apparently, Pakistan is being encircled through border hostilities. Multi- front border engagement coupled with extra responsibilities of census, Karachi operation and ‘Rad-ul-Fassad’ are adding extra burden on military shoulders. Political leadership, as usual, is not concerned at all and not ready to discharge the routine responsibilities by moving an inch forward beyond the verbal statements. Chaos linked with ‘Panama investigations’ and tension caused by mysterious handling of ‘Dawn Leaks’ has actually taken out the remaining spirit whatever was left with the rulers. A dangerous game is being played at our borders. Unfortunately, Political leadership has sufficiently proved her inability and lack of interest by every action. This disappointing output carries multiple negative signs for the nation.
