Afghanistan Times
Related Articles
Peace loving Afghans are the worst victim of extremism, insurgency and terrorism. Their peaceful way of life has been challenged and diluted by the anti-Afghanistan elements, who are always in the quest to enslave Afghans, both mentally and physically. Friends are a few and foes are many. Some are in the guise of allies and after their own interests. It is the main reason that over three decades of violence is crippling Afghans but there is no effort on parts of the regional and international community to put an end to it. Number of Afghan refugees is staggering high. Likewise, more and more people are becoming displaced. If there had been the element of sincerity in the actions of our neighboring countries and international friends, the situation has been different now.
These political players have put the issue of terrorism and extremism on the back burner despite vowing in most of the summits and bilateral meetings to help the people and government of Afghanistan in the area of security. If they would have committed towards security and stability of Afghanistan then there would have been result-oriented steps in the sight and a set of genuine commitments. Their pledges are of no use for Afghans as the security situation is worsening day by day and international support is shrinking. As far as the regional countries are concerned, they are also trapped in extremism but have different definition of terrorism and insurgency. The concept of “good” and “bad” militants is destabilizing South Asia. Some of the neighboring countries are using violence as a tool to execute their foreign policy successfully. They prefer their own policies over the broader security paradigm. Limited engagement between the South Asian governments had overshadowed the opportunities of mutual cooperation and growth.
Recent statement of Pakistani interior minister Chaudhry Nisar is a good epitome of the self-propelled policies of the South Asian nations. In his visit to Balochistan province he said that Pakistan is not a watchman of Afghanistan to tame insurgency. He is right. Pakistan is not a watchman, but it is supporter of the Taliban. If Islamabad could not help Afghanistan to become stable then it should not support elements that are destabilizing it. The interior minister of the neighboring Pakistan has got short memory. He should recall that where Osama bin Laden was killed and where the Afghan militants met.
His statement is validating the argument that Pakistan would never cooperate with the world community and Afghanistan to put an end to extremism and insurgency. The history has taught us that those who sow violence shall reap violence. Breading snakes for others is not a wise idea.
Hence, Pakistan shall revise its policies regarding Afghanistan. The “strategic depth” is an obsolete and failed policy. There is need for a broader perspective to usher a whole new era of cooperation, development and coordination and in different areas.
