Back to the future
In 1979 when the USSR invaded Afghanistan, there was a view that Russia’s ultimate purpose was to have its access to warm waters through crossing Pakistan and Afghanistan. ‘Islam in danger’ was also the slogan of the era to galvanise the fight against the Soviets. This was the time when Pakistan was also thrown into the blazes of war, from which we are still trying to recover. During that time we witnessed the violence, brutality, bomb attacks on our territory and a death toll in the thousands.
During Reagan’s era, Afghans were invited to the White house and honored as the insurmountable heroes because they were fighting to fulfill the American agenda of a unipolar world. During that time Pakistan supported America, though in return we were gifted with a money-back brand of Islamisation and madrassas through Zia’s epoch. Subsequently, Afghanistan added into the gift in the form of weapons, refugees, drug smuggling, bandits and warlords, financing and encouraging the violent groups we now identify as terrorists who are challenging the writ of the State.
After the disintegration of the Soviet Union, the “good Afghans” were left alone, and the US strategy backfired. Resultantly in 2016 while fighting against “US created insurmountable’ terrorists”, Pakistan was not missed out by the Americans, and has been given the gifts of drone attacks, suicide bombers, violence, corruption and a power struggle on the Afghan border.
America at present, like in Vietnam, is fighting an un-winnable war in Afghanistan that they refuse to completely acknowledge. Having become so deeply entrenched in a war of their own creation, the USA, despite all false claims for her desires to pull out from ‘World’s graveyard’, has failed to bring peace.
Under the politico-socio-psychological quagmire, the regional powers like Russia, China and Muslim States are keeping their hand steady in Afghanistan. At its manifest level they are showing displeasure over Americans’ prolonged presence in their proximity but down the surface they would not let America easily disengage from Afghanistan without significant bleeding and weakening to ensure that even global superpowers understand that actions have consequences.
Out of sheer anger, aggression and some confusion, America would keep running blindly at the wrong enemy; keep fighting the ‘deranged’. They continue to use force, as is their nature, and try to muscle their way out against the ‘infidels’ trained and mobilised by them. The use of strategic drone strikes has brought global condemnation on the US.
Today, the world acknowledges that Pakistan is not the only country affected by the wrong strategy of America, rather other countries who are directly or indirectly involved are paying the price. Although some of them have realised the true peace in this world is linked with resolving unrest in Afghanistan. But, American’s old ‘friend’ India on Russian and Iranian behest would not let them withdraw from Afghanistan with ease. Like in Vietnam, when Russia and China defeated American strategy, they are using the same guerilla tactics. During the Vietnam War, the American public played a crucial role in putting an end to the war. Having seen the horrific media coverage of the brutality and endless body count of their troops, they forced Lyndon Johnson into action. The very same public will put the US’s military might’s mind on the right path and save America from further bleeding at home and abroad.
Afghanistan remains under constant threat, which has produced psychological imbalance. The stubbornness, fanaticism, aggression, civil war between various internal factions, confusion in Afghan forces, maneuvering of foreign players and Indian involvement has confounded an already delicate situation.
In order to avoid further delay and more chaos, America must think to apply its forgotten ‘exit strategy’ from Afghanistan and let Afghanistan and Pakistan work in harmony to neutralise relations with each other. In place of war, America should work seriously over a community awareness and mobilisation strategy of shaping the minds of Afghan people and explore better opportunities of peace.
Despite all efforts from Pakistan to reset marred relations with Afghanistan, the situation has been largely characterised by mutual mistrust, which is interplay of many international, regional and local factors. For future prospects and prosperity in both the neighboring countries, Afghanistan and Pakistan should put all required efforts to escape the blazes of war and antipathy through border management, exchange of trade, sports, theatrical and cultural programs and raising public awareness to encourage peace possible.
