While discussing the common challenges faced by both Pakistan and Afghanistan, PM Gilani and Hamid Karzai have focused, according to news reports, on issues such as stability, peace and development along with the need to counter militancy and control it through joint strategy.
What needs to be emphasised is the difference between the geographical realities of both the countries and the stance already taken by the respective governments. Afghanistan, however, needs to back the claims made by concrete actions, such as building up more security check posts on its border areas. However, the Pakistani intension of acquiring ‘strategic depth’ in Afghanistan has backfired right into its eager face as it has become an exploiting site by all and sundry.
The fact that Pakistan has been linked with Afghanistan geographically, ethnically, culturally and linguistically has almost always been disadvantageous to Pakistan’s interests. The aftermath of the Soviet invasion and expulsion has been borne more severely by Pakistan which faces nothing but regional isolation and internal turmoil with millions of Afghan refugees to play havoc with the societal harmony. Raising and funding these terror networks has never been in Pakistan’s benefit. What, we must ask, does the state or army stand to achieve by supporting the militants as trumpeted by the US? Is it a good name that they crave? Or may be a strong economy? Or even a resolution of its multiple problems such as terrorism, water, energy, inflation, etc? Did they get any of it?
UMAR KHAN
Lahore