THE meeting between a delegation of America’s Afghanistan War Commission and Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir at General Headquarters in Rawalpindi is significant at a time when the United States is reviewing the two decades it spent in Afghanistan. Led by co-chairs Shamila N Chaudhry and Dr Colin F Jackson, the delegation acknowledged Pakistan’s long-standing role and sacrifices during the conflict and appreciated its contribution to regional peace and stability.
During the meeting, the CDF shared Pakistan’s perspective on the security dynamics that shaped the Afghan war and highlighted the enormous challenges Pakistan faced during the prolonged US engagement in Afghanistan. His emphasis on incorporating a regional perspective into any assessment of the conflict is important. The Afghan war cannot be fully understood without considering its consequences for neighbouring countries, particularly Pakistan. There is no denying that Pakistan paid a heavy price in the war against terrorism. Thousands of Pakistanis lost their lives, while the country suffered severe economic, social and security consequences. At the same time, Pakistan’s geographical position and cooperation were critical to the US-led campaign and its eventual withdrawal from Afghanistan. However, the end of the US military presence did not end the security challenges facing Pakistan.
The weapons and military equipment left behind in Afghanistan have added another dimension to the threat, with terrorist groups using them against Pakistan. Terrorism is not the problem of one country; it is an international phenomenon requiring a collective response. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has repeatedly described Pakistan as a barrier between terrorism and the wider world. The point deserves serious international attention. Pakistan cannot be expected to carry this burden alone. The United States and the broader international community should recognize the sacrifices Pakistan has made and extend meaningful financial, technical and institutional assistance to strengthen its counter-terrorism capabilities. Such support would serve not only Pakistan’s interests but also the wider objective of regional and global security. The Afghanistan experience should teach the world that conflicts do not end when troops leave. Their consequences remain, often for generations.
