AFGHANISTAN?

AFGHANISTAN????

Dr.Khurshid Alam khurshidalam44@hotmail.com

Afghans all over the world and particularly on both sides of Durand Line are worried about the tomorrow of their fatherland. NATO departure would have been celebrated if there were a stable government in Afghanistan to defend itself. Afghans (Pashtun) can tolerate any thing but occupation, or if the NATO were the only one player in this game the scenario would have been different.

The players are many and every one has a stake. What do I fear that the fight for the stake will consume Afghans in post NATO withdrawal period, another war of non-state citizens? Will the blood let stop? Will the tranquility prevail?

These are the questions agitating our mind and are giving us sleepless nights. The present national army apart small size, less trained and poorly equipped has no national character.

Pashtuns are literally out of mainstream politics for their national grievances and so having no proper representation in the army or civil government.

It is the third repeat of the same scenario that existed during Dr. Najeeb and Hizbs times. Their grievances are long standing and they have always been vocal that they are subjected to the denial of national rights on population basis. They call it silent internal imperialism.

They are not totally wrong in my personal opinion. One does not have to have enormous intelligence to feel their grievances but see for themselves that majority of Pashtuns are bilingual as to compared to their Dari speaking brethren. It is an obvious manifestation of cultural imperialism that is much older than economical.

In my lifetime this cultural imperialism disintegrated quite few countries like USSR, Pakistan, Yugoslavia, Albania, Chekosalvakia. Cultural imperialism started in 16^th century while economical imperialism started two centuries later.

The vicious and wicked enemies like Pakistan, Iran and China surround Afghanistan. The interference of Saudi is palpably present.

The government of Afghanistan is in a fragile state. The south of the country is totally destroyed thanks to Russian invasion and the basic fabric of statehood has been tarnished. There is hardly an institution not infiltrated by ISI and non-state vicious shadows of death and terror.

The matter is compounded by a more disturbing fiction; the GANGS OF GANGSTERS who are better trained even the commandoes of Pakistan Army.

I wonder that if the stroke of luck works and Afghan national sanity prevails followed by reconciliation between Taliban and the Afghan government, will it be possible for Taliban to cleans their fatherland from these vicious animals. The same situation is prevailing in Libya. Muaamar Gadhafi is using the same barbaric force against his citizen.

These surrogates are available through out the world cheaply and easily. Entry to Afghanistan is easy because of its porous borders and mountainous terrain. The demography of Pashtun land is such that it is a good hide out for invaders but on the other hand it makes it difficult for the enemy to have an escape in case of retreat.

Iran and Pakistan are waiting for their stake. Pakistan insanity of having strategic depth still persists. Iran is dreaming to be an Islamic Israel since Pakistan failed to attain that status.

The political instability in Pakistan is yet another factor to go against Afghanistan. As in the past whenever Pakistan is in trouble internally it divert attention of the public by invading neighbors. It is a lot easy to say that if NATO quits Afghanistan, peace will return to this bleeding wound. The gangs of unanswerable, non-state citizens will peel off Afghanistan paw by paw like an onion.

The fragility of Afghanistan, instability in Pakistan and the rule of Clergy in Iran is the worst possible combination to the existence of Afghanistan or peace in Afghanistan or southwest Asia.

It is the duty of international fraternity to make it sure that their decision will not be for worst and irreversible damage to Afghans. Many states will love to see the state of Afghanistan cease to exist and cleansing of Afghan nation.

Pakistan is a critically sick state unless improved otherwise. Afghan geographical location is the enemy of Afghans. Any one who controls Afghanistan can control the energy resources of central Asia, Middle East politics and trade with India and China.

Western strategists consider Pakistan a conduit rather than a country required for some time. They are worried about the rising military and nuclear might of Iran. The rise of Iran will be followed by collapse of Arab States like cards Houses with the result of loss of energy resources. If we take a bird view of oil and gas fields in the Middle East majority are in Shia dominated areas. Their loyalty to Iran is no secret.

All logics go against an early and peaceful transition in Afghanistan. UNO is duty bound to consider every aspect before taking any other step. It will be tantamount to throw Afghanistan to the wolves as British and Indian Congress did to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Southern Pakhtunkhwa and left behind a truncated Afghanistan that can easily fall a prey to any assault or interference.

Dated: 26/7/ 11