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By Capt. ( R) Rab Nawaz Chaudhry
A MILLION dollar question that haunts many of us living in this region is, why were Americans arrogant to attack Afghanistan just about a month after the 9/11 episode? Everybody views it in his or her own perspective. The real secret is, of course, known to Mr Bush and it might be disclosed one day in his memoirs. However people speculate and I stand in line to share with the world my personal views. One of the most unconvincing pursuits was in search of Osama bin Ladin, the Qaeda chief who could plan the operation while sitting in the caves of some wild mountains with the most reliable and modern communication with highly secure secraphones un-decodable even by the most advance country of the world.
The masterminds of the 9/11 might one day volunteer a confession and reveal the truth about hitting the twin towers by the understudy pilots. Some consider it a joke but since it is only the one superpower’s quest, we might as well reluctantly compromise with their description.
Osama was readily available with the Taliban government who were willing to hand him over to an international tribunal to be tried and dealt with in accordance with the decision of the court. However Mr Bush wanted a war bounty delivered to America as a future tribute to him. It is now almost ten years that NATO forces after putting the entire Afghan soil upside down with almost 60,000 modern A/C war sorties without finding trace of Osama. Majority of people in Pakistan believe that he is dead with no affidavit of his grave. The American leadership is still hoping against hopes to find him and present him to their people.
Removal of the Taliban government was the next aim fulfilled in a few days of war because it was a fight between an ant and an elephant. The Taliban were defeated and a new government of the Northern Alliance was installed against the wishes of the Pakistan government. However it was limited to Kabul and its suburbs. The Taliban reorganised themselves and adopted new gorilla war tactics and are still fighting a very successful war against Americans and the NATO forces. Pakistan’s tribal areas are also involved as the belt is a common heritage between Pakistan and Afghanistan. The people belong to the same race and have been living together with inter-marriages since ages.
The war has also dragged the Pakistan armed forces as ally of NATO against the tribals for the last eight years. In addition, there have been unlimited American drone attacks with casualties of many innocent people, creating more hatred towards America. There seems no end to this war between the allies and these rugged people who have the will and stamina to continue the fight.
Trapping Iran and having firm control of the newly-librated Central Asian States was the only legitimate reason for coming to Afghanistan. It was probably a good way of keeping China and Russia at bay also. The methodology should have been different than the one adopted. Development of Gawadar (in Balochistan) and Afghanistan was the key to this project. Destruction of Afghanistan was the last option sensible think tanks could work, even if they wanted to desert it at the end.
Reaching to Pakistan’s nuclear assets was another hope Mr Bush, his aids and the Jewish lobby were thinking of. It was an impossible task to negotiate. Destabilising Pakistan was a dangerous adrift and an invitation to destabilise the whole region. Firstly, they have been declared safe by IAEA; secondly, Pakistan’s nuclear assets are so well concealed and dispersed that even Pakistanis may not be in a position to locate it easily what to talk of foreigners. It would be an exercise in futility to disturb the arrangement because it might cause another catastrophe in the world of today.
A friendly Pakistan and its tribesmen are an asset to America in this region. A change of strategy in the area would be disastrous. The remote chance of securing monopoly in drug trade could be one of Mr Bush’s hallucination. It was similar to one when he thought about finding weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. The other reason could be expectations of mineral resources out of the virgin land of Afghanistan. Only the people of America can seek and find the truth.
The funniest of all the approaches was establishing democracy in Afghanistan. A tribal society has own system of governance; little bit of democratic principles, some authoritative functions, a little bit of anarchist tendency, and rest of it religious values and mutual respect of elders in society. Rich and poor live with equality and justice. Although the system has been polluted by mixing with modern society, still old values take precedence over so-called mew civilisation. King Amanullah tried to modernise Afghanistan and lost his kingdom. The Soviets wanted to export communism and were defeated with losing their century-old union and alliances of East European states. Let people live their own way of life without learning modern dirty tricks, as long as they don’t interfere in others’ affairs. Change; they must bring from within and in their own time-frame. Red Indians and Amish are still following their own traditions inside the most-modern US.
The Americans were not the first and may not be the last invaders in Afghanistan. Alexander The Great, Persians, Muslims, Mughals, and British failed in bringing the change. America [out of them] was the most-civilised country with the capacity to bring a surprise but without indulging in war and destruction. However after committing this folly they had plenty of time to re-think a better change. I am sure war was not the only option nature had prescribed. Wining of heart and mind, partners in trade and developments, friends in thick and thin were better choices to share pleasure and pain together.
Pakistan is the only country outside NATO involved in this conflict. It, therefore, reserves the right to complain about all the damages done to her because of this war. The terrorist activities are outcome of her participation as an ally and as a result of drone attacks. The economic crises are only because of the war. The road system effected by heavy American supplies are beyond Pakistan’s capacity to repair. Pakistan govt. should have asked for construction of additional motor ways for this heavy traffic from Karachi to Afghanistan before allowing of this traffic.
India on one and Iran on the other side of Afghanistan have their own axes to grind. None of them would be in favour of ending the war. However, any attempt by friends for using India against Pakistan may reverse the whole Afghan scenario where Pakistan forces go back to east and tribals set free on its west to use their own discretion. A fair distinction between friends and foes is an essential ingredient to strength. The theory of “there are no permanent friends and enemies but permanent interest only” is certainly a betrayal of friends at critical moments. Mr. Obama therefore may draw his own conclusion.
The recent peace council of elders set by Mr Karzai and America reminds me of a Jew who was excited to win the lottery through divine concept that God once in 24 hours accepts the prayers of His people. He sat down to recitation and there came the moment of acceptance with an echo, “Mr David, at least go and buy a ticket.” Peace council is welcomed to negotiate but at least be gracious to offer a unilateral ceasefire as a simple goodwill gesture to begin with.
The various factors surrounding the mystery are neither easily verifiable nor so important because the damage is already done. It is more or less an open secret. The recovery from it is vital and let us all try to get out of it. Pakistan is a bridge and a reliable link between Afghanistan and the world. A stable and strong Pakistan is a key to establish Peace in the region and guarantee to a safe passage for American exit.
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