Musharraf and his meddling in affairs beyond his approach
A sensitive approach towards Afghanistan has led to the melting of the ice between Islamabad and Kabul. The neighbouring countries are cooperating at a level rarely witnessed during the last many years. Both sides have conducted coordinated operations against the terrorists operating along the respective sides of their borders. The first ever batch of Afghan military cadets has joined the PMA at Kakul. Afghan students, jointly financed by Afghanistan and Pakistan, are seeking admission to LUMS. Afghan President has hailed Pakistan’s role in regional peace.
The improvement in ties is the result of hectic efforts made by the two sides during the last five months. The initiative was taken by Pakistan. President Mamnoon Hussain paid two visits to Kabul after the assumption of office by President Ashraf Ghani. Later President Ashraf Ghani called on the COAS at the GHQ along with a high ranking defence team. COAS Raheel Sharif visited Kabul thrice since the assumption of office by Ghani. During his latest visit early this month, he declared that ‘Afghanistan’s enemy is also Pakistan’s enemy’. With a big backlog of complaints and suspicions on both sides, five months are too small a period to pass a judgment on the sustainability of the ties. The interaction has taken the two countries a long way as both abstained from the traditional pride and prejudice, treated each other as equal partners in peace and were widely seen to be acting with sincerity. There is a need to nurture the relations with the same spirit.
Musharraf’s imperious remarks about Afghanistan in an interview with the Wall Street Journal expose his hubris-ridden mindset which played an important role in the worsening of relations with Kabul. Afghanistan is a sovereign country which cannot be ordered about. Pakistan can at best suggest but not dictate. Musharraf continues to speak irresponsibly, invoking army’s support now and then. It is time somebody told him to shut up. A bull in a china shop is the last thing one needs when dealing with delicate issues like Pak-Afghan relations.
