Afghanistan - a threat to Pakistan

Pakistan supported the Taliban regime in Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001, militarily as well as financially. It is important to remember that the formation of the Taliban government in 1994 was fully financed and backed by the United States through Pakistan. In return, in the name of Islamic Sharia, the Taliban imposed fundamentalist rule in Afghanistan. For example, women were not allowed to get an education or work; male doctors were not allowed to treat females; and so on.

The Taliban did not limit their fanatical ideas to within Afghanistan. Taking the opportunity to move freely between Afghanistan and Pakistan, they influenced some sections of the Pakistan population. Their activities led to the introduction of new religious ideologies in Pakistan.

Today, Pakistan is facing an enormous threat to its security and stability due to fanaticism, violence and terrorism - in the name of Jihad - which has been basically imported from Afghanistan.

After the 9-11 (2001) attacks in the United States, Pakistan’s agencies tried to broker a deal between the US and the Taliban to hand over Osama Bin Laden and his al-Qaida members so to avoid conflict and to maintain peace in the region. After much effort the Taliban’s response meant this was a failure.

When President George Bush declared war on Afghanistan the US and the Western powers asked Pakistan to assist in capturing members of al-Qaida and the Taliban, alive or dead. In the interests of the country and the region, Pakistan offered its full co-operation. Since then Pakistan has been making every possible effort to hunt down terrorists.

Pakistan fully supported the US-sponsored government of Hamid Karzai. Pakistan has been facing insecurity, threats, an economic slump and frequent terrorist attacks but has never given up supporting Kamid Karzai and his government.

In return, what is Pakistan getting from President Karzai and his government? While speaking out against a recent jailbreak in the southern city of Kandaharin, he verbally attacked Pakistan, threatening to send Afghan troops across the Pakistan-Afghan border.

President Karzai’s statement makes at a time when Afghanistan is controlled by foreign troops which would deal with any insurgence, unless he was speaking on behalf of the US administration.

In any case, Karzai’s harsh comments against Pakistan show that he and his government have no respect for what Pakistan has done for Afghanistan in the past. President Karzai should know that sending troops into another country is an international crime. And if it did send troops into Pakistan’s territory then Pakistan would have every right to respond with military might.

In the last five years, Pakistan has suffered the loss of many army personnel. Just recently US air strikes killed several civilians and 13 Pakistani paramilitary soldiers who were manning a border post. And in return, what has Pakistan received from Afghanistan? More insults.

The government of Pakistan must learn its lesson. Afghanistan has never been faithful to Pakistan in the past and will never be in the future. Any sort of relationship between the two countries will only cost Pakistan more.