Shamsa Ishfaq

It is for quite some time that US and NATO forces’ aerial raids along border areas are an almost daily event. These strikes have caused death of dozens of civilians and Pakistan security personnel and left many wounded and created panic in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). Now along with strikes, consistency is being witnessed in statements to launch an attack into Pakistani territory from officials of US State Department. This fresh rhetoric is in sync with US intentions to operate freely into Pakistani territory and divert the world’s attention from their failures in Afghanistan vis-à-vis peace and stability. It is not the first time that Pakistan has to explain one way or the other that she is neither on a war front with Afghanistan nor solely responsible for peace and security there. The real responsibility lies with Afghan government and all the security forces present there, including the US, NATO and ISAF to combat Taliban and al-Qaeda elements while Pakistan is just playing a role to support the smooth working of Afghanistan and all security forces. In view of such hostile statements it would be empirical to highlight the real causes of instability and growing militancy in Afghanistan rather than irrationally whipping on Pakistan to do more. Amidst such speculations, interesting to note is the role of US and NATO forces in promoting a culture of peace and harmony in Afghanistan. Besides high-handed tactics of the US and NATO, the moral degeneration of Afghan army under the patronage of the coalition forces is reported to have been on the rise. It is ironic that at one hand coalition forces keep on harping the tune that Pakistan is contributing to the instability in Afghanistan while on the other coalition forces’ commanders have strict orders to ignore Afghan National Army’s (ANA) misconduct with the civilian population which in turn is shifting Afghan masses’ resilience from ANA and NATO to Taliban. The derogatory standards and coercive policies of coalition forces’ towards masses is actually contributing to the insurgency in Afghanistan. Another example of US double standards vis-à-vis terrorism combat policies are their secret relationship with Taliban. Taliban militants have bases and their training camps in Tagab, Alasay and Tamir districts of Kapisa province, which is located next to Bagram airbase. Kapisa province is under little control of Afghan government therefore, responsibility for the security of the area lies with German and United States’ troops. Interestingly, coalition forces maintain close contacts with Taliban in the area, ANA troops and local people are fully aware of the fact. It is for this reason that coalition forces never launched a serious operation in the area and the Taliban reciprocate it by never attacking an exclusive coalition forces’ convoy, even a single vehicle with few foreign troops can operate in the area without any threat from militants. On the contrary, there have been a number of instances where on the same route ANA convoys were targeted but never foreign troops. Further, only low level or less motivated militants are usually being arrested by the coalition troops and they too are often released after few days with gifts and money. The foreign Commanders have adopted this tactic to spend their four to six month tenure in Afghanistan peacefully. Now it is arguable that if Afghan government and the US understandably know that Taliban is a reality and constitute main strength of Afghanistan and without indulging in talks with them no solution or accord for restoration of peace and stability in Afghanistan is viable then why Pakistan’s peace deals with Taliban are impracticable? The conscious minds of the world are wise enough to understand what is really in the offing for Pakistan. Earlier it was weapons of mass destruction, then Taliban and now the terrorist sanctuaries in FATA, isn’t it? If this is not so, then there is no reason that the US, NATO or Afghan government see Pakistan’s proposals and deals to fight terrorism with jaundiced eye. Peace talks with Taliban in FATA are not the only case of US double standards and Karzai’s irrational outburst but there is a series of such examples. Hardly a day passes by when Pakistan is not accused of cross-border infiltration whereas it is in fact NATO and Afghan forces that are not pulling their weight in monitoring the long and porous border along formidable mountainous terrain. Pakistan check posts outnumbered those on the Afghan side by 10 to one, and also to mention is the Afghanistan’s refusal of Pakistani offer to fence the border in order to stop alleged cross-border infiltration. In this context an important but largely overlooked factor is the over presence of Indian consulates in Afghanistan, which are passionately busy in the widespread propaganda against Pakistan besides contributing to the instability in Afghanistan. Indian intelligence’s subversive activities have been exposed many a time, which though did not affect its relations with Afghan government but sparked obvious anti-Indian sentiments among masses. As a result Indian soap operas had been taken off the air and attacks on Indian workers and diplomatic missions rise in recent months. Under such circumstances it became impossible for New Delhi to fulfill her desire of increased military presence in support of its intelligence network working in Afghanistan. The recent attacks on Indian embassy in Kabul and consulate in Jalalabad are planned by RAW in collaboration with RAAM to pave way for deployment of security personnel-cum-Indian spies along Pak-Afghan border. If India can alter her friendship rules in case of old friend Iran then how come she can be loyal to Afghanistan? It goes without saying that India has no legitimate role in Afghanistan but the dream to confront Pakistan and expand her rule up to energy rich Central Asian Republics. Apparently, Indian intention could be economic gains in Afghanistan but reality is what meets beyond the eye. And deprecatingly the Afghan government has failed to mark the narrow difference between a friend and foe. The worst part of war-wrecked Afghanistan story is that the Afghan government, US-NATO officials know exactly with whom the failure lies but they dare not admit it. And this is perhaps the weakest part of war on terror that coalition forces instead of learning from the failures, put the onus on Pakistan who is already facing the major brunt of this war despite pouring more than her due share. It is high time that the world should stop blaming Pakistan for every terrorist act that occurs in this part of the region. The fragile situation of the region calls for cooperation among Pakistan, Afghanistan and US-NATO security forces. On the other hand there is a dire need of serious re-thinking and global review of the war on terrorism. The world order must produce a sense of hope, proliferate confidence, mutual tolerance and sagacious accommodation for others. If the peace is to be achieved, the powerful states should have to shun their wicked schemes and high headedness.