Sikandar Noorani
BEFORE pondering upon Doha Peace Deal, let’s refocus that any unrest in Afghanistan surely carries multiple damaging effects for Pakistan as well. History stretched over past four decades is enough to prove this undeniable reality. If we refer to the remarkable wisdom of thinker of Pakistan, Dr Allama Muhammad Iqbal, then relevancy and impact of Afghanistan’s internal situation seems spreading all over Asia. It is neither a poetic over-exaggeration nor an irrelevant conclusion. Allama Iqbal, while declaring Afghanistan as Heart of Asia in his Persian poetry, very rightly predicted that peace and order of Asian region is directly linked with the latter. Precision of Iqbal’s wisdom based assessment can be rightly judged from the impact of recent four decades on this region.
No sane mind can deny or overlook that after Afghanistan, it is Pakistan which has suffered the most since Soviet invasion. Games played by the foreign powers turned this region in a battlefield against global Jihadist. Those who fought against invader Soviet forces were personally honoured by none other than US President Ronald Regan in White House, for their tremendous resolve, spirit and bravery. Afghans did not change with the passage of time but priorities in Washington were rearranged drastically. ‘Afghan Papers’ published by Washington Post have amply exposed the hidden bitter facts. It was referred by a few of top US officials as an ‘Unwinnable War’! It is being debated that what actually has compelled US to pull out, may it be symbolic or not, from Afghanistan.
Whereas, it is about time to be clear on this aspect that what did actually compel US to reappear in Afghan arena amid 9/11 attacks? An organization like AQ seems too little a reason to run a lengthy campaign stretched over almost two decades. Though, AQ was the declared objective but ‘Afghan Papers’ disclose an entirely different set of facts. Leaving aside the vagueness of such a lengthy American campaign, let’s see that how Iqbal’s prediction about larger impact of Afghanistan’s internal situation is proving correct with every passing day. It all came in limelight with the Soviet invasion which tried to conquer the Heart of Asia. This invasion on one hand affected Pakistan in the form of refugee influx and on the other hand compelled the US to dwell against rival superpower of that era. Blood soaked history of Soviet invasion and withdrawal offered nothing except destruction to Afghanistan and Pakistan. US’ departure practically left Afghanistan at the mercy of dangerously disunited Afghan groups. Unrest in the heart of Asia prevailed on many violent pretexts.
Rivalries based on ethnicity, sectarian groupings and traditional rifts among war lords to maintain hold on various parts never let the poor Afghans to take a sigh of relief. It will be incorrect to say that all problems faced by Afghans in the post-Soviet-US withdrawal were outcome of indigenous factors. Unfortunately, Afghanistan suffered hugely due to foreign interferences and exploitative intrusions. There has been a deep Iranian connection with various segments of Afghan society basing upon religious, Persian linguistic and strategy driven socio-political grounds. Iran-Afghan connection turns more meaningfully interesting as leaders like Hikamatyar and former Taliban Ameer Mullah Akhtar Mansoor had remained in close contact with Tehran. Indian involvement in Afghanistan has always been a source of serious concern for Pakistan.
Story goes beyond the Soviet invasion when immediately after the partition of sub-continent Pundit Nehru put New Delhi on the path of anti-Pak conspiracies aimed at failure of newly born state and its subsequent forced rejoining with India. This manipulative mindset transformed Afghanistan in a hub of Indian proxies. Baloch and Pushtoon nationalism was vigorously exploited to disintegrate Pakistan. Linguistic weapon paid dividends to India in East Pakisan, however, during Soviet invasion of Afghanistan remained largely free of Indian manipulations due to obvious reasons. In the post 9/11 scenario, India rapidly spread its deadly wings in Afghanistan to patronize anti-Pakistan proxies. Joint venture of Chahbahar port with Iran and its connectivity through railway line with Bamian in Afghanistan had multiple objectives. India desires to maintain influence in Afghanistan to reach Central Asian markets and coerce Pakistan through proxies to settle old scores.
China and Russia, under prevailing scenario, can not remain oblivious or disconnected with Afghan internal disorders. All regional players have strong reasons to worry about Afghanistan. The US will not vacate the ground for rival powers! So, is the case with India which cannot afford to lose heavy investment on anti-Pak elements. Peace deal alone cannot bring peace to Afghanistan. Iqbal was right that unrest or disorder in heart of Asia will affect all the region. Every regional player is worried about Afghanistan. Afghanistan needs a break from war, bloodshed and corruption. US should understand that irresponsible withdrawal will push Afghanistan towards another terrible war. Pakistan, being the closest to Heart of Asia, cannot afford recurrence of lethal conflicts. Quick restoration of durable peace in Heart of Asia is a joint desire of all sane quarters from Pakistan and Afghanistan.
—The writer is a free lancer who often contributes in national newspapers.
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