As far as a strategy for Afghanistan is concerned, it’s a long shot. Bring peace to India and Pakistan and not only will that stabilise Pakistan but it will also ease tensions in Afghanistan. Indeed it’s such a long shot that it has not been considered as a serious policy option. That was until last month’s bombing of the Indian embassy in Kabul.
A spate of allegations that Pakistan’s powerful spy agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), was involved in the bombing has forced India-Pakistan rivalry back onto centre-stage. This is not just about India and Pakistan, or so the argument goes. Their rivalry is undermining U.S. efforts to defeat al Qaeda and the Taliban since the ISI is maintaining links with Islamist militants to counter Indian influence in the region. And Pakistan’s denial of involvement in the embassy attack has done little to quell the speculation.
In The Atlantic.com, Robert Kaplan argues that the war in Afghanistan is part of Pakistan’s larger struggle with India. “Afghanistan has been a prize that Pakistan and India have fought over directly and indirectly for decades,” he writes. ”To Pakistan, Afghanistan represents a strategic rear base that would (along with the Islamic nations of ex-Soviet Central Asia) offer a united front against Hindu-dominated India and block its rival’s access to energy-rich regions. Conversely, for India, a friendly Afghanistan would pressure Pakistan on its western border-just as India itself pressures Pakistan on its eastern border-thus dealing Pakistan a strategic defeat.”
His argument is that the ISI will never rest easy as long as it fears that Pakistan is threatened by a hostile Afghanistan on one side and a hostile India on the other. “Unless we address what’s angering the ISI, we won’t be able to stabilize Afghanistan or capture al-Qaeda leaders inside its borders,” he says.
In the Globe and Mail Saeed Shah writes that the ISI was supposed to have severed ties with Islamist militants and the Taliban after 9/11. ”Only it didn’t. The links were loosened, but they remain, for the simple reason these militants are viewed as vital pawns in a bigger game: Keeping Afghanistan unsettled to limit the United States’s - and by extension arch-rival India’s -influence in the region,” he writes. “This is a military doctrine about national survival, not an ideology of religious fanaticism. Civilians are not welcome to meddle with it,” he says.
To understand where these writers are coming from, it’s important to remember that the Pakistan Army — and by extension the ISI — sees itself as the ultimate guarantor of Pakistani survival. And although it has stepped into the background from time to time to allow civilian governments into power, it will never allow Pakistan to become as vulnerable again as it was in 1971 when what were then West and East Pakistan were torn apart with the creation of Bangladesh.
“ISI’s primary duty is defending Pakistan,” writes Eric Margolis in another article which tries to explain the behaviour of the ISI.
The arguments are contentious, not least because Pakistan has repeatedly denied using militant groups as pawns against its much bigger neighbour. India too is extremely touchy about the subject of Afghanistan, arguing that as a regional power it has a legitimate role there that does not deserve to be dragged down to the level of India-Pakistan rivalry. It has also spent years accusing the ISI of fomenting violence, from the Punjab insurgency in the 1980s to the Kashmir revolt in the 1990s, to Afghanistan in the 21st century — charges rebuffed by Pakistan — until the issue has become both impossibly murky and highly emotive.
But just suppose for a moment the arguments were correct. Then would renewed efforts towards peace between India and Pakistan help stabilise Afghanistan? And conversely, what would be the price of their fragile peace process disintegrating?
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go and read Ghaznawi Empire of 1030 there was no Islamabad … no Lahore noo New delhi … no Peshawar … and this is an example of Afghan Empire .. and Afghan History …
- Posted by TameemMr Ali Shah,
you should and go and read Alexander’s history how Afghans defeated them
By 330 BC Alexander had the world’s richest crown with riches and wealth of Persian Empire, which would fuel his invasion of Afghanistan. In Afghanistan he faced his fiercest battles and grave loss to his army physically, mentally and financially.
and same the Other Empires … Afghans are the Heroes …
- Posted by TameemBilal and Ali Shah,
What a crap! Pakistan does not have a history of more than 60 years. Our territories (NWFP, Baluchistan) are still occupied by you guys! Have you forgotten the Durand Agreement? Probably asking your grandpa’s might help!
Pakistan never existed! Pakistan came into being exactly the way Israel came into being! Right now, Pakistan is a nest for terrorists! Where is Osama! Where is Mola Momar! Where is Abdullah Masood! All enjoying in pakistan as a courtesy of ISI and Pakistan government! The double standard players! Get a life!
If we need to clean the roots of terrorism, then Pakistan need to be attacked! THe US has to fight terrorist in Pakistan’s soil as Pakistan is the mother of terrorism.
In principle, Pakistan being an Islamic Country (I doubt their faith though! at least the ones on the government) is supposed to help its brother Afghanistan but isntead of doing that, they are breeding terrorists and sending it to Afghanistan and India!
We are much better off with the Indians! Although they are Hindus, yet they have more sense of humanity than our Muslim pakistani brothers!
What a shame!!!
- Posted by ahmadBefore invation of Russians when our president wanted to declare war agaisnt Pakistan … your whole country was affraid and shockeed … that pathans are coming ….. now please dont post your funny comments here… People will laugh on you DAL-Khors
- Posted by Tameemyou pakistanis better review the histroy again …. indus civilation wat ever its still comes names INDO means India not pakistani lolz
anyways World knows better where are the hideout of the terrorism and who is the sponser of the Terrorism in the World … you Pakistanis should go and ask fathers what is thier 4th 5th 6th and 7th fathers he may name is … John … Mark … etc … anyways .. you guy should better and better review the Hisotry … who is the Heroes 
- Posted by Tameemlol rubbish country your the drug dealer of earth who gives kids opium all over pakistan should nuke the country with the most killers and drug dealers Afghanistan must be nuked by Pakistan to save kids and the earth from terrorism and drugs like heroine shame on you afghan opium dealers the world bombs you for a reason you deserve it.
- Posted by Bilaltameem pakistans history is 9000 years old ever heard of indus valley civilisation? probably not as you get your education by osama bins subjects pakistan should deport all afghans to india or back to afghanistan and then pakistan can try to clear the mess the afghans create no more drugs from addicted afghans who pollute the world with heroine take your filth back home
- Posted by BilalAfghanistan is a like a cancer for south asia first it sends in thousands of refugees into pakistan and most of them are terrorists in disguise pakistan must deport all afghans and fence the border whether the puppet afghans like it or not and secondly india needs to stop sending in rebels into balouchistan and then peace can prevail unless india and afghanistans obsession with pakistan ends there will be no peace.
- Posted by BilalAll these Afghans are absolutely ungratful, today if they are still alive and surviving that is because of Pakistan and by Grace of God, otherwise they would have been wiped out from the face of earth. Mr. Tameem is talking about the history. In my opinion he don’t the history, they were the people who always supported the invaders to pass from Afghanistan to plunder India, and giving refuge to the deserters of great armies like of Alexander, Mughals captured Kabul for a very long time, Mughal emperor Babar tomb is still in Kabul.
- Posted by ALI SHAHIf you compare Afghanistan and Pakistan before Russian war, Pakistan was much more developed than Afghanistan. Afghans were selling opium before and still selling now.
Refugees are still in pakistan, why they are not going back to their dear mother land, they dont want go back irrespective of the governament in power, it does not matter northern alliance in Kabul or Taliban in Kabul. These ungratful termites are eating Pakistan because of western powers otherwise Pakistan would have long time thrown them back to their stone age life style.
It is a common ” One can not buy Afghan loyalty, their loyalty is on sale all the time” Earlier Russian’s were paying for their loyalty, today America and India is paying them for their loyalty.
Pakistani’s were never terrist, they became terrists for fighting your war and your freedom by the blessing of America and Western powers.
Mr. Tameem is talking about the money that they are sending to their family and Pakistan is enjoying what about the ill effects you Afghans bringing to the Pakistan, why don’t you mention that also, so please get out of Pakistan and develop your Afghanistan from that money, and stop that opium trade.
Afghanistan was only in Kabul and its outskirt, rest all was run by some barbarian warlords and still it is same, now you have so called Governament which is again only in Kabul rest of the Afghanistan in control by drug lords.
If you go back and read the history of Afghanistan, you never had a stable governament and please do not hope for one now.
Pakistan is developed becuase of Afghanistan first they recieved billions of billions of dollars in AiD second Afghans defended Pakistan from Russian’s duirng which pakistan didnt have any nu-clear … Afghanistan has more than 5000 Years history everybody is well aware that they defened alof of accopiers … and what Pakistan only 60 years ???? claming refugee’s helpp is totaly nonsene as i mentioned earlier …. if you read news more than 95 percent of terrisots are Pakistanis and partly Arabas .. suicide attackers … its totaly a rubbish country … and should be wipied off from the World Map.
- Posted by TameemDear Readers,
if you go back and read the history Pakistan is a country that always palyed double standard policy toward US and Afghanistan and even International Community USA supported Afghans to fight Russians not pakistan and Afghanistan Saved Pakistan Ass from Fire of Russians during which they Fight agaist russians. USSR wanted to occopy not only Afghanistan but to reach the Warm waters which includes pakistan and thats how Afghanistan saved Pakistan. as far as pakistan’s slogans that they helped Afghani refugess …. thats totaly nonsense there will billions of Dollars raised to Pakistan during the War in Afghanistan donors such as USA Europe and Austrillia helped afghan refugeess settled in Paksitan buy paying pakistan billions of dollars not only this but Afghan refugess who were living in Europe and American helped thier relatives by sending them money monthly pakistan were reciveding more than 4 billion dollar anually only from families who helped thier relitives in Pakistan so how they claim they helped Afghan refugess ????
- Posted by TameemEverything will be alright if the Pakistani military returns to the barracks and not indulge in politics. This is Musharaff’s game plan to destabilise the Civilian government of Pakistan. The reason being this analysis is that when he was in direct control, number of such incidents were substantially less.ISI’s (under Musharraf)primary role is not defending Pakistan but creating trouble for the civilian leaders who have to answer for its follies.
- Posted by Dr.T.R.LakshminarayananKandahar,Kabul,Karachi and Kashmir not only share the letter K but also a historic turbulent and viloent history.From historical times, the mischevious elements in Gandharam(Kandahar) have played a pivotal role in Indian History.A conspiracy of the Prince of Gandhanram (Kandahar) resulted in the battle of Kurukshetra among brothers.
Today yet another mischevious element called ISI from the Pakistan family is sowing the seeds sitting in Kandahar and Kabul for another Kurukshetra with the Indian Brethren.
Afghanistans’ geographical location is her greatest curse.
On the cross-roads of Indo-Irnanian Civilisation in History,then the flash point of Imperialist Czar and the British Crown and finally the Cold War frontiers of the Russians and Americans.
Added to this a multi ethnic community and God forbidden terrain have made it “Wars Own Country”.
Stability in South Asia will be a distant dream sans a Stable and Peacefull Afghanistan and the frontier provinces of Pakistan.But Ironically the ISI and its mentors in the Pak Army,does not wish for either.Civilian Governments in Pakistan and Afghanistan would thrive in such a scenario and the image of the Pakistans Armed Power centres which project themselves as the “Protectors of Pakistan” would be exposed to the common man of that country. The Power Hungry Armed Forces of Pakistan which thrives on NON- ISSUE called Kashmir and WAR THREAT OF INDIA through Ceasefire Violations during Civilian Rule in that Country is the greatest threat to Peace in Pakistan,Afghanistan,India and a Greater South Asia
- Posted by Sunil Naircome on Vijay, what a great story, Isaac is educated and its neighbor is jealous now. This is just a BS. Each country has its right to defend itself, doesn’t matter big and small. What do you think people will keep on blaming that you are doing this and you are doing that and you are expecting from that guy to listen to all the BS and just keep quite. I don’t think its fair, and one more think, Indian is just taking advantage of its media and being a cry baby. Pakistan is suffering for last five years only because of this so called war in Afghanistan. Its people are being killed day and night and who mis doing that. terrorist and you are saying Pakistan’s ISI is sponsoring them, i can believe that. Its just that when fire burns your own house then you feel. Take all the Afghani refugee out of Pakistan and give them refuge in India.
- Posted by MuhammadMs. MacDonald you are right on the dot. There will be no peace between India & Pakistan until the Kashmir issue is resolved by the Kashmiri, Pakistani and Indian with the people of Kashmir deciding their faith under the UN supervision. Without any permanent soultion the Kashimar problem there will be no peace in that part of the world.
According to some news India now have their first military base out side India, and yes it is in Afghanistan.
People in both countries will benefit from a permanent peace.
- Posted by DenaliTo understand the current ‘power struggle’ lets not forget that the great game has actually been the super powers game,namely USSR and the US during the cold war.Pakistan played a pivotal role in America’s war against the Soviets.Were it not for Pakistan and its army America would still have been left to live with a powerful Russia.
Now lets talk about Afghanistan.Suppose America is sandwiched between a hostile Canada and a hostile Mexico and Mexico had a history of fighting four wars with America in which one of its states had ceded to be a new country.
Would would the CIA do in such a scenario.Sit back and relax?
For Pakistan,the ISI is its first line of defense and every Pakistani knows that and they are determined to foil every consipiracy that brings harm to its country,the army and the powerful intelligence agency.
- Posted by MusWell I guess it had to happen one day….reuters India is turning into a tabloid with society gossip writers masquerading as journalists - what a pity!
This is the second post by myra - higlighting ignorance is so blissful or is it a personal agenda?
Evene if the whole world sees that pakistan is supporting taliban to bomb a country’s civilian embassy -it can be justified. I guess so could the bombings of US embassies in Africa by Al Qaeda.
Anything goes in Myra’s world - 3500 people deserved to die on 9/11 because some people were angry, 37000 people deserved to die in India because pakistan’s military was angry, it was A-OK to rape croatian women (by serbian soldiers) because serbia was angry and so on and so forth…
If a reuters editor is reading this - stop this before reuters loses its reputation as a serious news reporting organization similar to what is happening to businessweek
- Posted by a concerned reuters readerA major reason Pete has trouble keeping a job and developing his independence is because another player Paul, has always bribed and enabled his dependency on Paul with “aid” as part of Paul’s greater “strategic” interests. Getting out of the cobra breeding business is like killing the golden egg business. The US really needs to rethink the mid/long term impact of its policies.
- Posted by SHaradDefinitely correct - There must be a peace between India and Pakistan (and settlement of the Kashmir dispute) for the war on terrorists in Afghanistan & Pakistan to be prosecuted successfully.
The world should move singlemindedly to assist these two countries to finalize a peace deal.
This is 1/2 of the Rubics Cube in solving the international community’s war on terrorism.
The other 1/2 is the solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
- Posted by diogenesMyra,
Why is it that journalists such as yourself always try to report things in a manner as to bring a moral equivalence between any two sides you report about.
I request your indulgence with the following.
Suppose I were to report:
Isaac and Pete are neighbors. After several years of struggle, Isaac educated himself and now has a steady job and a fairly decent reputation in the neighborhood. Pete, however, always believes Isaac is out to get him. Therefore Pete breeds venomous cobras and occasionally sends them to attack Isaac’s kids.
Therefore Isaac has to assuage Pete so that Pete doesn’t feel compelled to breed cobras.
Yes, Pakistan has a right to expect all neighbors to be respectful of its interests. But when Pakistan’s response to anything that doesn’t got its way is to send truck bombers and obscurantist militants, can there ever be a moral equivalence?
BTW, if you truly believe that “until the issue has become both impossibly murky and highly emotive” then you are either blind or less than honest. For any journalist that has reported on South Asia to claim that there isn’t evidence of a massive state funded jihadist campaign by Pakistan in Kashmir is simply ridiculous.
Just because there are two sides to any story, it doesn’t mean that both sides are equally credible.
- Posted by Vijay