For nearly a century the two most powerful nations on earth – Victorian Britain and Tsarist Russia – fought a secret war in the lonely passes and deserts of Central Asia. Those engaged in this shadowy struggle called it “The Great Game”. The vast chessboard on which this shadowy struggle for political ascendancy took place stretched from Caucasus in west to Tibet in east. The focus on energy and mineral rich South Asia has thus been there for centuries. The geographical location of Pakistan makes it the most important country in the present politics of the region. Pakistan forms a natural bridge for any economic activity between this region and the outer world.
Any strategy for this region cannot move forward without addressing the concerns of Pakistan. Today this region passes through grey fog of psychological warfare. It has become difficult to find a line between opposites. Understanding of the complete mosaic is only possible through analysis of the last three post-bipolar-world decades. The New World Order has completely changed the ethics, lifestyles and rules of the game. It is not only the democratic values which have changed but the international rules of the foreign policy have undergone a sea change. Freedom movements of one decade have become terrorist activities in the other. Taliban the friends to defeat Russia are now on the list of terrorists. New jargons like double standards, mistrust, covert operations have dominated so much that even at times the red lines for national sovereignty have become flexible.
HAMID WAHEED
Islamabad
