The Other
Side of the Story
By Abubakr G. Shaikh
Westerville, Ohio
Time and again, Pakistan is blamed by the American
media for not doing enough for the war on terrorism.
There are no concrete facts to support this accusation
– only the misleading rhetoric of Afghan
and Indian leaders.
To have an idea of the nature of relations that
Pakistan has had with its two immediate neighbors,
one should first acquaint himself with a brief
background of the three countries. Pakistan made
its debut as an independent country in August
1947 against the stiff opposition and wishes of
the majority Indian Hindus who would neither accommodate
the Indian Muslims’ concerns about their
future and welfare ,living together as one nation
,nor accept the partitioning of India into two
separate sovereign entities. The Indian leaders
desired and advocated Akhund Bharat – undivided
India. It is unfortunate that to this day, India
has not reconciled to the existence of Pakistan
and Akhand Bharat remains the cherished dream
of many starry-eyed Indians.
Pakistan and India have not reconciled their differences,
though Malaysia and Singapore, who were also arch
rivals at one time, did and reaped vast benefits.
Kashmir continues to be the bone of contention
between the two countries. Regretfully, instead
of resolving their differences on the contentious
issue, leaders of both countries have successfully
exploited the Kashmir dispute to divert public
attention from the real issues at home .So long
as the international community strikes a nonchalant
posture and the dispute remains in a state of
limbo peace will remain an elusive proposition
in the South Asia region.
We all know that solutions were identified and
imposed in East Timor, Bosnia and Kosovo. .Kashmiris
have long been engaged in their freedom struggle
in the past 57 years of their state's occupation
by India. The UN has failed to implement its resolutions
on Kashmir in the face of India's defiance .The
world body granted the Kashmiris the right of
self-determination but looked the other way when
it came to the resolutions’ implementation.
Butros Ghali, unabashedly, went to the extent
of declaring the UN had no role any longer in
resolving the dispute and thus absolved the UN
from its responsibility. Regretfully, the world
refuses to intervene. India and Pakistan remain
engaged in propaganda war and the blame game continues,
now joined by Afghanistan.
Mr. Karazai has not furnished any concrete proof
in making his allegations against Pakistan. .
Islamabad has repeatedly asserted that the majority
of the militia groups had long been disbanded
and the country continues to apprehend the scattered
groups of insurgents . Despite deploying 80,000
combat troops in the bordering areas it has not
been possible to completely seal off Pakistan’s
long and open border with Afghanistan in the absence
of similar measures from the other side of the
border. Mr. Karazai also has an obligation to
prevent the militia groups from crossing into
Pakistan. In view of the fact that the terrain
is extremely rugged, the Taliban who were born,
bred and trained there enjoy a decisive advantage.
It is also pertinent to mention the long history
of a hostile attitude that Afghanistan has maintained
since the inception of Pakistan. Kabul has actively
engaged in spreading unrest in the Pastoon-speaking
belt while laying claims on Pakistani territory
and making alliances with Pakistan’s arch
enemy, India. Sadly Mr.Karazai has also fallen
a victim of this pernicious tendency of his predecessors.
Mr.Karazai owed it to the world community to explain
his support and relations with the warlords who
are openly engaged in opium cultivation and manifold
more than before .He allowed the warlords to contest
the national elections without disarming their
militias despite the strong opposition of his
people. Some of the warlords who enjoyed power
as commanders are accused of serious human rights
violations and worst imaginable atrocities during
the Taliban regime. Being a Pashtoon himself,
Mr. Karazai had been a long time refugee guest
of Pakistan, and should have been able to understand
the insurmountable difficulties faced by his one-time
host country. He is a weak leader. Despite the
complete support of the world’s sole super-power
and its best trained army, he has failed to gain
the initiative. During his interim and elected
presidency the country has made little progress,
if any.
Afghanistan is a land-locked country and its interests
lie with the neighboring country of Pakistan.
Without Islamabad’s goodwill and cooperation
Afghanistan cannot make real progress. A secure
and peaceful Afghanistan is in the best interest
of Pakistan too with whom it has a long and unsecured
border. Pakistan seeks peace on its borders which
it rightly recognizes as an essential key to economic
growth and progress of Pakistan.
Pakistan has defused the explosive situation on
its borders with India by unilaterally withdrawing
its forces. What advantage is there for Pakistan
to train, equip and send militants to fight against
American and Afghan troops? Will president Musharraf
empower the same extremists, his arch enemies,
who nearly succeeded in eliminating him in their
two attempts on his life?
Contrary to the false propaganda Pakistan has
suffered major financial and social crises when
it first joined hands with the United States to
support the Afghan war against Soviet occupation.
United States at that time preferred to wholeheartedly
support the extreme ultra conservative Taliban
rather as it was bitterly opposed to the establishment
of a communist regime in the heart of South Asia
which could not be in the interests of America.
Lamentably, American interests in the region declined
soon after the Russians departed from Afghanistan,
leaving Pakistan high and dry in the words of
president Musharraf.United States stopped arms
& ammunitions and financial aid to Pakistan
immediately after the Russain left Afghanistan
. The onus fell on Pakistan's already fragile
economy to support millions of Afghan refugees
who had crossed the border in an uncontrolled
exodus of population from the north, creating
enormous law and order, environmental and social
problems in the country. Arms and drug smuggling
became rampant, peace and quiet of the cities
and villages was irreversibly shattered, and law
and order had no meaning as armed robberies, kidnapping
, murder, car hijackings on the main streets during
the normal rush hours became a disconcerting feature
of daily life. The crimes were so well organized
and gruesome that they made headlines, nationally
and internationally. A society of love and civility
suddenly presented a gun and violence culture.
It was customary during summer for people to sleep
outdoors in their backyards under the open sky
in the cool placid breeze; air-conditioners were
then a rare luxury. Now citizens make sure to
double lock their dwellings before going to sleep
indoors in hot and humid bedrooms.
Though the law and order situation has much improved
during the present regime but it is still far
from ideal. The Soviets have been gone a long
while ,Afghanistan has since then trasformed into
a free and democratic country but the Afghan refugees
still remain perched on Pakistan soil. Pakistan
cannot afford to play host to them indefinitely!
When Pakistan chose to join hands in the war against
terror, the two wars in Afghanistan and Iraq were
extremely unpopular at home .There is a stiff
opposition to the country's involvement in Afghanistan.
Pakistan is facing an uphill task in maintaining
peace in the North West tribal areas, bordering
Afghanistan and Baluchistan provinces. People
in these area are sympathetic to the Taliban and
provide them a safe haven .One reason could be
cultural affinity and common language and the
other religion. People in this troubled region
are simple folks, majority of whom have little
or no education, and live below the poverty line.
Poverty and lack of education are the two main
breeders of extremism. The religious zealots easily
exploit the underprivileged who are pone to be
easily misled.
In the 58 years of Pakistan’s history not
much has been done to alleviate the causes of
the two poverty stricken provinces of Pakistan,
namely North West Frontier and Baluchistan. People
have genuine grievances against the government.
At one time, the Taliban were considered to be
heroes and Pakistan's close allies. It is hard
for these people, living in the remote parts of
the country and little connected to the world,
to understand the sudden shift in the Pakistan
policy. Resultantly, the government is not getting
full support and cooperation in these areas while
the Taliban continue to receive protection and
and support of the people of this region.
In Balochistan, the situation is truly explosive.
Pakistan is trying hard to defuse the near anarchy
in the province. The Army continues to suffer
casualties daily while confronting the armed tribal
groups sympathetic to the Taliban.
Indisputably, peace is vital for economic growth.
Pakistan understands this and is committed to
root out terrorism and extremism. Instability
and insecurity are in nobody's interest. Mr. Karazai
must understand Pakistan's position and appreciate
its difficulties instead of indulging in futile
anti-Pakistan propaganda. Pakistan's fight on
terrorism has resulted in the popularity of the
right wing religious parties who have for the
first time in the history of the country formed
a substantial opposition in the parliament. This
surely is a long and arduous fight on multiple
fronts. A progressive, secure , prosperous and
democratic Pakistan is in the best interest of
the United States and the world to help maintain
peace in South, Southeast and Central Asia. Another
point worth mentioning here is that it is absolutely
wrong to assume that only American soldiers have
suffered casualties in the war on terror. The
Pakistan Army has suffered heavy casualties far
more than the Americans and continues to offer
sacrifices – almost daily - in the fight
against terrorism. The world does not take full
cognizance of its heroic role as, unfortunately,
it has got used to hearing only one side of the
story.
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