Afghanistan and Pakistan Closest to Yet Farthest Away from Each Other
Dr. G. Rauf Roashan
There are no two countries that are closest
to and at the same time farthest away from each other than Afghanistan
and Pakistan. Yet the two need to live not only in peace, but also in
harmony to survive the harsh realities of the 21st century
politics.
It is perhaps because of the above and
a number of other reasons that the Afghan President Karzai has planned
a visit to Pakistan in the middle of this month to hold talks with his
Pakistani counterpart, General Parvez Musharraf.
Afghan-Pakistani official relationship
for the most part of the short life of the latter has been on edge.
While the two nations share a lot in common and have behaved as two
fraternal nations in the face of hardships, the governments, on the
other hand, have had some degree of difficulty in understanding each
other’s points of view and perhaps their interests have also differed
on a number of issues.
It is not very difficult to find a lot
of similarities between the two countries. Their geographic location,
the fact that majority of their populations aspire to the sacred religion
of Islam and historical connections and ties as well as sharing by their
people of cultural values established over thousands of years bring
them closer than many other nations of the world.
The two countries, one very old and the
other very young, because of their varied political stands mostly due
to the personalities of the rulers in charge, have had to go through
difficult times in their relations which otherwise should have been
fraternal, peaceful and harmonious.
To analyze the situation it would be
worthwhile to look at the social conditions in the two countries especially
after the founding of Pakistan.
The father of the Pakistani nation, Mohammad
Ali Jennah, a fine aristocrat educated within the Christian education
system, founded Pakistan on the basis of religion only. The design cost
thousands upon thousands of lives of both Moslems and Hindus, displacement
of huge masses of humanity and suffering of the people. The result was
establishment of sanctuary countries on the two flanks of the subcontinent
and in many instances away from Indian Moslems who had lived their lives
in central Indian regions such as Hayderabad in Deccan etc., by the
name of East and West Pakistan, a fluid union that did not stick for
long. The slogan used for the establishment of Pakistan was: “ Islam
is in danger!” While the father of the Islamic country of Pakistan
was not very conversant in Islamic tradition himself, the nations he
created embraced religion to the full. After separation of East Pakistan
and the creation of Bangla Desh, what was left of Pakistan turned to
religion as it constituted the reason for its being. Religion also served
the needs of the rulers of Pakistan, who found their political desires
hostage to the whim of a strong military left behind in the tradition
of the British Raj. Mawlana Moudodi and his peers were among the first
in the newly found country to push away from secular traditions of the
father of their nation. Madrasas sprouted all over the country. The
curricula of these institutions were designed and implemented by fanatics
conversant only in the techniques of prayers rather than the philosophy
of the religion.
It was in this milieu that Pakistani
politicians embarked on programs for the growth of the new nation. Any
small breach from the norms of the religious extremists or any encroachment
on the powers of the military and police generals was met severely and
harshly by the military that would take over repeatedly. Some of the
generals who came to power through military coups, liked the feeling
of being in power so much so that in one way or another they tried to
legitimize their personal and dictatorial rule by promising to pave
the way for civilian governments in due course. Examples of this in
recent history are General Ziaul Haq and General Parves Musharraf. The
latter came to power from within a democratically elected government
of Nawaz Sharif where he served as Chief of Army. He was chosen by Sharif
for the reason that he had no political ambitions of his own. But Nawaz
Sharif was soon to realize that his Chief of Army sided with extremists
and thus decided to replace him. The rebound by the general cost Mr.
Sharif his government and brought Musharraf to power.
Musharraf himself the son of a foreign
office worker had spent some of his childhood in Turkey where he had
developed great admiration for the Turkish leader Kemal Ataturk, a secular
ruler who purged the Turkish government of extremist religious tendencies.
Ironically, Musharraf found himself, as the leader of Pakistan, to rely
on extremist powers in his country in order to consolidate his rule.
Notwithstanding the irony, he then found himself in an awkward position
when he opted to join the United States war on terrorism.
The delicate relations of his government
with the Untied States, extremist parties inside the country, relations
with Afghanistan with respect to security issues, his inability to tame
dissent among the nations that make up Pakistan and pressures within
the country that make him take a stand against the US and pressures
within the country that make him take a stand against the extremists
place him in an undesirable situation.
It is therefore not surprising to note
that he is trying to blame his neighbors Afghanistan and India for the
unrest he is not able to control effectively in Baloochistan where there
is an increasing tendency for independence from central government and
autonomy.
Presently, developments in Afghanistan,
the increased violence including suicide bombings and roadside explosions
plus proven involvement of Pakistani elements in stirring of unrest
including sectarian violence and instigating of unrest and violence
due to the sorry state of European media’s stand against the Islamic
religion the Afghan President will have a full agenda for discussion
with his Pakistani counterpart.
Among the practical problems that touch
on relations between the two countries are: Firstly, the issue of security
and the need for Pakistani leader to harness extremist tendencies in
his country and prevent export of the same into Afghanistan that needs
an era of peace just to dress her wounds of quarter century of war and
devastation. Secondly, the economic issue and the need for Pakistan
to guarantee timely transportation of goods destined for Afghanistan
from Karachi and urgently needed for the country’s reconstruction.
The need for cooperation between the
two countries as well as the coalition forces in the fight against terror
would make another agenda item. The need for the two countries
to cooperate closely regarding the recent news coming out of Southern
Waziristan of Taleban and Al-Qaeda resurgence and reorganization in
the region and establishing of new bases to attack inside Afghanistan
from across the so-called border might be another important issue to
be discussed between the two leaders. Afghan refugee situations in and
repatriation from Pakistan based on a calculated plan that would honor
the human needs and rights of the people can make another important
agenda item.
Because presently both have optioned
to help, for the good of their own countries, in the US war on terror
and that both require an atmosphere of peace and security in which to
work for the prosperity of their respective countries, the meeting should
come up with mutually beneficial decisions.
For Afghanistan it is of utmost importance
to see that her rights under international law are upheld when it comes
to the use of the seaports of Pakistan. It should not be difficult for
friendly and fraternal counties that have no selfish designs, to agree
on a course of action regarding the solution of many of the aforementioned
and other problems of mutual interest. Also for Afghanistan it is important
to see that finally one of its most important neighbors agrees to the
principle of non-interference in its affairs and gives her a chance
to continue to provide for the reconstruction of its dilapidated economy
counting on the sincere help of its friends including its neighbor Pakistan.
There are many issues that drive nations apart, but lucky are those
who promote issues that bring them closer. Afghanistan and Pakistan
need to come closer to be able to tackle the great challenges of the
21st century. 02/12/06
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