- Who is our real enemy?
There was a time when our Afghan brothers had extremely friendly relations with us. More like brothers I’d rather say. Pakistan was one of the only nations to have ever accepted such a large number of refugees. We didn’t close our doors for our Afghan brothers and sisters. Not only did we open the gates of our country but also the path leading towards our hearts was wide open for them.
This is despite the fact that the large Afghan influx brought with it too many problems. Drug addicts, militants and disease infected people were significant in number. Yet, we never turned them back and welcomed them as if they were our own. And, indeed, for the longest time we did consider the Afghanis our own. But that was in the past.
Our once brotherly neighbour found a new friend. India went in bed with Afghanistan in another one of its long term strategic goals. Although Pakistan faces criticism for the prevalent security situation of the region, not even a single nation is ready to question India’s activities in Afghanistan. With such a safe haven provided to our eastern neighbour, the Afghans definitely had to be pushed back. Pakistan couldn’t afford friendship with turncoats.
Ever since the Afghans have become involved with the Indians, the relations with them have remained strained for one reason or the other. The Indian endorsement has done wonders for the Afghans who have found the audacity to stare us down. Quite recently, the Afghani army killed members of a team conducting the national census near the border. What followed might have taught them a lesson for the times to come; at least if they are sensible enough they wouldn’t attempt such an adventure again.
Ever since the Afghans have become involved with the Indians, the relations with them have remained strained for one reason or the other
You may have all the support you can gather, but one should never over estimate itself and more importantly should never play into the hands of others. On the beck and call of India, the Afghanis often look for a clash with us. Mostly a war of words though. How naïve of them to think they can take us on.
Amidst this lingering relationship our western friends also play quite a significant role. Their continued lambast against Pakistan and the ‘do more’ mantra help Afghanistan garner support to flex whatever little muscles they seem to think they have. A strong master to have indeed. Nevertheless, let us face the reality of the situation. In spite of having been trained by the Americans for the longest time now and having the constant support of India, the Afghan air force displayed its disgraceful capabilities last week. The newly trained force by the Americans successfully managed to take out dozens of children early last week. Children who had nothing to do with insurgency or the ongoing conflict. They were mercilessly bombed by the air force and as a result more than 100 people lay dead.
Such despicable and lousy standards of training being provided to the Afghans might help identify who actually is to blame. It is a matter of seconds for the Americans to charge up on us, yet at the same time their own commitment to the region is reflected by this airstrike. This is the level and standard of training that the Americans have accorded to the Afghans in a bid to curb militancy. Yet, Pakistan needs to do more? Pakistan is reluctant in the fight against terrorism? These facts are turning out to be hilarious as different events transpire. Pakistan’s armed forces have time and again displayed the highest level of competence and precision when it comes to targeted operations and has averted collateral damage, notably.
Before even conducting any airstrike, the ground intelligence provided to the Pakistani forces is so accurate that the question of collateral damage is automatically sidelined. Maybe the superpower of the world has a weaker network as compared to us. Or, maybe somebody else needs to focus on themselves and do more.
Even though our western friends are tirelessly aiming to blame us for all their failures in Afghan territory, yet God has his own ways of materialising things. The sheer level of incompetence displayed by the Afghani air force reflects back on the US forces and not us. By no stretch on imagination can such incidents be blamed on us.
We may have flaws in our policies nonetheless we have remained ahead of the militancy problem in our country. Isolated incidents take place, but entire cities do not remain in a constant state of fear. There is a sense of peace and tranquility all over the country which has only been achieved due to a collective effort of Pakistan as a state against militancy.
The need to do more and even more now remains in Afghanistan and not here. Pakistan has already given far too much to the war on terror imposed on us. We have been browbeaten, have faced a tirade of bombings, witnessed high-profile assassinations and have encountered support for extremism being present within the country. The wave of uncertainty has clouded the skies of Pakistan for many years until recently when we finally put our foot down and gone after militants across the board. The uncertainty is long gone. The fear has vaporised in the air, and peace continues to extend its hold throughout the country.
Our Afghan brothers who are being misguided into perceiving us as the enemy should embrace reality and create a sense of resilience in themselves. The Indians aren’t going to be always there. This is what they need to realise and before embarking on a journey to criticise Pakistan it would be better to pull up their own socks. A step to begin with would be stopping to bombard innocent civilians and try and display professional capabilities.
Unfortunately, they have always been controlled by wrong masters, mostly extremist in nature. Be it the liberal west or the conservative Taliban, the Afghans are yet to find solace by unearthing somebody balanced or stable.
