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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Now that World came to know that Pakistan is the hideouts for the Terrorists which destalize not only Afghanistan but all the World and we fully support the US interfrence and bombing inside Pakistan lets see Free-terrorists World one day.
- Posted by TameemAlthough this blog has become over-run by Revanchist Indians and Irredentist Afghans: The message from the 170 million Pakistanis and the Pakistani state as one solid edifice have spoken: “Pakistan first and last, Always.”
We will continue our wars of survival against both east (India) and west (Afghanistan). We can not and we most certainly shall not let a couple of historical has-been nations like Afghanistan and India to challenge in any way whatsoever the Pakistani state.
If the neighbours of Pakistan came to accept the reality of the Pakistani nation, The problems of South Asia would be solved overnight.
Long Live Pakistan!
- Posted by Dr Idris Shah EbrahimiI urge as an Indian to Balochs, Afghans,Kashmiris and pashtuns not to be fooled by these pakistanis whose only instrument is islam, that is being continuously used to exploit your beliefs ,sentiments against India always.
- Posted by sandeep kumarA punjabi cant be a sindhi.A sindhi cant be a pashtun.A pasthun cant be a kashmiri.A kashmiri cant be a bengali.
This is culture.This is Civilization.
These are only apart of civilization.
Like wise In India there are gujuratis,bengalis,punjabis,jaths,gujjar s,oriyas,asammese,tamils,kannads,malays, telugus,kashmiris,marwaris,marathis etc.Like pakistan is a multi lingual and multi cultural country ,India use to be.Then where is place of religion.If apunjabi sikh cant live with a punjabi muslim on the name of islam then how a punjabi muslim will live with a baloch muslim whose culture and thinkig is different.
No No we can live together on the name of islam.
- Posted by sandeep kumarSo why bengalis hesitated to live with west pakistanis????????
BECAUSE it was the strong east pakistan s monopoly to do whatever they want to destroy bengali culture and language not accepting their popular leaderas their prime minister.
What a bengali PrimeMinister will rule punjabis,sindhis.
NO way.
Supress them with iron hands kil them bloody bengalis.
This is the mentality of pakistan army what I mentioned.
Like wise the balochs are also being killed every day by these pakistani army(very cruel who killed almost 30 lakhs bengali muslims within one year)
All the muslims in Pakistan , BAngaldesh And India were converted from hinduism and budhism.Our religion may be different bur culture and civilisation should be same.
- Posted by sandeep kumarBut pakistanis cant distinguish between what is culture,what is civilisation and what is religion.
Thats why they have alredy finished their trditional or classical dancess ,they are also not hesitating to destroy their own histrorical hindu and budhist monuments also.They not in state that they are the part of this civilisation
.
Even pakistani intelectuals also dont agree with this facts
.
Actually it is the Pakistani eshtblishment which creates false histroies far away from yhe truth.
- Posted by sandeep kumarThats why most of the pakistanis cannot link themselves with Indians.
They simly know we Are muslims and they are hindus
.
They dont know original facts .They know only islam.
and noyhing else.
Is pakistan a arabic copuntry no!
Is pakistan a central asia country obhiously no.
then which civilisation it belongs to.
Of courese not Chinese.
YES It is Sindhu civilisation which often called it by arabians by hindu civilisation.
Because their pronounciation of s sounds like h.
Pkistan is a country whose history is just 61 years ancient.
- Posted by sandeep kumarIndias history is 9000 years old.
In southasia before islam it was hinduism and budhism that was existed and the the harappa and mohenjodaro culture and indus cuvilisation is nothing but the hindu civilization.In our Mahabharata all ancient epire has been described that belong to afghanistan and pakistan.
Thats why we are crrying the 9000 years of trdition an civilization. Pakistanis have already lost their culture by adopting arabic culture (the land of islam)
You should hvae the better policy on your economical growth not on islam.
- Posted by sandeep kumarI think apart from Americans large number muslims in the world are suffered due to their own governments policy.
Before BAngladesh the pakistani army had killed over 30 lakhs bangali muslims in 1970 this is large……………………..
There no qustion of religion on state policy
- Posted by sandeep kumarpakistanis
cant unite their country on the name of islam.if the story then why Bangladesh.
Pakistan a country of dreams.
- Posted by sandeep kumarThe dreams that canot be fulfilled by its millitary rulers.
The trurh is Bangladesh.
The truth is Balochistan.
The truth isNWFP.
The truth is Pakistan Occupied Kashmir.
Every where these people get upset with the policy and soon be……
Hi
- Posted by sandeep kumarI am sandeep from India.
As an Indian we support the concerns of innocent afghanis who are more concerned about pakistan’s double standard games against India and Afghanistan.
It is Pkistan s polisy specifically its ISI and army who always been responsible for destroying afghanistan.
On the name of islam ,pakistani eshtablish ments have played a danger game by creating taliban so that they can be totally controled and regulated by pakistan.
It is the foregn policy of Pakistan to any how we have to defeat India in any way.So Afghanistan puts sterength to its policy.
From the beginning
afghans are being fooled by these pakistanis those always try to play with the sentiments and their faith.
People who are sincerely for Indian, Pakistani and Afghan friendship must speak up. It is natural for other, cynical voices to be suspicious (and maybe they are justified in feeling so) ; still, if you want a better, more peaceful South Asia, speak up: make your voice heard. Sure, it’s not going to be easy; but if you’re going to fight for something, wouldn’t you say that this is a worthy cause too? (By an interesting coincidence, the “anti-spam” word I have to enter before submitting this post is an appropriate one, I think: the word is…’love’.)
- Posted by FriendsMr Bilal, I am really glad that you Pakistanis still remember that our civilization is thousands of years old and Indus Valley civilization was one of the most advanced culturally and economically in the world. I thought you people were almost convinced that you are descendants of the Arabs and that you should carry forward their tradition of intolerence.
There was a time not long ago when Pakistan was considered as a model Islamic state throughout the world even though it was sponsoring terrorism against India and having many years of military rule at home. Now, after 9/11 the mask is removed and the truth exposed.
We believe there are still liberal minded people in the cities. But liberal or not liberal, most of them seem to have the same view that India is a rival if not an enemy. Considering Pakistan’s birth this is not unnatural. Pakistan was born as a result of Jinnah’s suspicions towards Nehru and his fuelling of Muslims’ suspicions towards Hindus. If its birth was that case, its existence is based on its suspicion towards India.
THE IDEA OF PAKISTAN AS A DISTINCT NATION IS BASED ON ITS SUSPICION/ANIMOSITY TOWARDS INDIA. If this suspicion is removed Pakistan will cease to exist. So the great thinkers of Pakistan, the upholders of your sometimes democratic sometimes dictatorship nation, will never allow the people of Pakistan to settle their disputes with India and lead a peaceful life. If someone thinks there can be peace between India and Pakistan even when both the countries are still divided, he lives in an Utopian world. My message to Barak Obama is - “Don’t waste your energy on this”.
- Posted by ShaanMiss Sania,
i totally agree with you there will be no peace without being united with each-other but what my concern is that Pakistan always interefered in Afghanistan affairs since 1974 till now they supported Talibans they support 7 group of terrirost that destroyed Afghanistan for the last 30 years now its pakistan turn to face such a challanges which himself supported and invented and even now Afghanistan and Afghan people want peace but still pakistan ISI is interfering you may heard in the new that even International Community came to know this just recently we proved that it was Pakistan’s Intelligence agency behind the Indian embassy attack thats one of the signs that finally interntioanl communnity confirmed thing that Afghan people were yelling for decades.
we still want peace with Pakistan and we are brothers with Pakistani people but we still hate pakistani politicians till they become good people.
- Posted by TameemPeace is the only way forward. Anyone who supports war, please stick a bomb up where the sun doesn’t shine and leave the rest of us peaceful people alone. I’m sick of this shit.
I don’t give a shit if your Muslim, Hindu, Christian, Buddhist, Jew, Athiest. If you can’t live in peace, PISS OFF.
I was born in Pakistan. But I do not have blind faith in anything and I do not have blind patriotism for anything. The only religion/country/culture I believe in is humanitarian. If you can’t be a good human, you can’t be anything.
Now to your question, The whole region is fu***ed up. How can there be peace in one country when it’s neighbour is in turmoil. See these rich countries, US, UK, France, they never fight with their neighbours. Sure there are fueds, but they never go to all out wars. They want to keep the peace in their neighbourhood.
Similarly, if South Asia can not be peaceful, no individual country will be able to flourish to its full capacity.
Peace.
- Posted by SaniaAs peoples, several people of Indian and Pakistani origins get along quite well. Despite its flaws, Pakistan is a strong, independent country and all countries in the region accept this fact (barring a few disillusioned individuals); India (despite its flaws) is also a vibrant, strongly democratic country that has the potential to contribute significantly to a better South Asia. Many are the ties that bind, despite strong rivalries. There are many reasons (economic, political, cultural and historical) for India and Pakistan to be friends. The peoples of India and Pakistan must not let a few noticeable, rotten eggs get in the way of true friendship! Carpe diem, my friends! Carpe diem!!!
- Posted by FriendsPlease dont play hanky panky its not something that you guys have it your hand … as i mention earlier india is 3rd Largest Economy in Aisa … and this is Known … as you always make un truthful comments this is not a basically engaged with your comments its a Record that World is aware of it …
- Posted by Tameem[...] Reuters asks: “Would Peace between India and Pakistan Help Stabilise Afghanistan?” [...]
- Posted by Afghanistan/Pakistan: Al Jazeera on the Taliban, US Death, India and Pakistan Peace (?) - The Seminal :: Independent Media and PoliticsTameem
- Posted by UMPKShut the F*** up, the whole world knows that what a shithole India is: abject poverty, rampant corruption, uneducated masses, HIV AIDS, a caste systems wherby Dalit(low caste Hindus) are oppressed. India will be exposed further, the world must know the real face of India.
Afghan India friendship will soon be ended, your honeymoon will soon be over.
Peace with Pakistan is certainly possible and is something people of both countries likely want (as normal Indians and Pakistanis may tell you), but elements such as the ISI make things more difficult. Here’s a tiny sample of what more independent sources may say:
* “Critics of the ISI say that it has become a state within a state, answerable neither to the leadership of the army, nor to the President or the Prime Minister.”
* The “Federation of American Scientists reports that the Inter-Service Intelligence, is the main supplier of funds and arms to the militant groups. The British Government had stated there is a ‘clear link’ between Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence and three major militant outfits The Guardian newspaper had uncovered evidence that Pakistani militants were openly raising funds and training new recruits and that the ISI’s Kashmir cell was instrumental in funding and controlling these outfits. India also accused ISI of masterminding the 1993 Mumbai bombings, with backing from Dawood Ibrahim’s D-Company. Aside from Kashmir, India accuses the ISI of running training camps near the border of Bangladesh in late 1990s where India claims the ISI trains members of various separatist groups from the northeastern Indian states. The ISI has denied these accusations, although without being able to clear its involvement from them.”
* “The ISI is also suspected to have been involved with the hijackers of the September 11, 2001 attacks, having paid the ringleader Mohamed Atta. After 9/11, ISI was supposedly purged of members who did not support President Pervez Musharraf’s stance towards the Taliban and Al Qaeda. Newsreports in July 2008, however indicate that ISI may instead have chosen to merely suppress the activities of these individuals rather than remove them from office.”
* “In the BBC Newsnight Programme on 27 September 2006, a research paper prepared for the Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom), was quoted linking the ISI with support for the Taliban and other terrorist acts in the west.”
* “After the Sept. 11th attacks, American and Pakistani officials acknowledged that the ISI had developed ties to al Qaeda. Whether the agency has truly cut those links and how forcefully it has joined the fight against Islamic extremism — and whether it will seek to block the rise to power of any opposition parties — remains a matter of hot debate in Pakistan, where many blamed it for the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.” (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference /timestopics/organizations/i/interservi ces_intelligence/index.html)
* “American intelligence agencies have concluded that members of Pakistan’s powerful spy service helped plan the deadly July 7 bombing of India’s embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan, according to United States government officials.” (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/01/world /asia/01pstan.html?_r=1&oref=slogin)
* “The intelligence service of Pakistan, a crucial American ally in the war on terrorism, has had an indirect but longstanding relationship with Al Qaeda, turning a blind eye for years to the growing ties between Osama bin Laden and the Taliban, according to American officials.” (http://www.nytimes.com/2001/10/29/inter national/asia/29PROB.html?ex=1218168000& en=5ce8d006c46f1857&ei=5070)
* “Britain’s Defence Ministry released an incendiary report saying that Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency ‘has been supporting terrorism and extremism, whether in London … or in Afghanistan or Iraq.’” (http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/1002/p01s 04-wosc.html)
- Posted by _hmm_