Pakistani security forces responded aggressively to Afghan stubbornness at the Torkham international border. Afghanis killed and wounded Pakistani security forces men in an unprovoked attack which resulted in the aftermath of the construction of border management apparatus by the latter well within Pakistani border. However, the Afghanis in their delusional state of mind refuse to accept the Durand line (International border). The price was paid for by blood and sheer humiliation by the Afghans who now face a closed border which is the life line for imports of daily commodities and food in the landlocked country.
This delusional mental state of the war torn country results in frequent border clashes with Pakistani security forces. Post 9/11 Afghanistan with the American implanted puppet government in Kabul, supported by India, this situation is only worsening. In the latest round, the Afghanis retreated like every time in the past suffering heavy casualties and immense humiliation.
The Afghan National Army and Police comprises essentially of rag tags compiled using US money having limited fighting capability. The Afghan Armed Forces are no match to the well organized and equipped Pakistani forces which even possess a potent nuclear arsenal. The result of all future Afghanistan-Pakistan border skirmishes will remain the same as seen in Torkham a few days ago in which the Afghanis will retreat after getting severe beatings and humiliation.
But that won't change the Afghanis delusional mindset being sweet poisoned continuously by the Indians. So powerful is the spell of the Indian sorcerers, that the Afghanis have forgotten the only country in the world which provided them with shelter and livelihoods, whenthe Soviet empire ravaged Afghanistan.
Pakistan was awarded the UN recognition award being declared the world's most hospitable nation for providing care to the Afghan refugees since 1979 to the present date. The Pakistani economy and culture is still suffering from the aftershocks of that hospitality in the forms of unaccounted financial loss and violence. But the Afghans are willing to forget all that blaming Pakistan for everything wrong in their corrupt to the core, terror and drug infested society. Again Indian designs launched over decades of investments in Afghanistan and it's leadership are at play here.
India in her quest for regional hegemony has newly founded an affair with the US empire. The USA is desperate to counter the natural rise of China in the Asian Pacific region and for that reason alone, they have adopted India as a foster child. Pakistan is in the Chinese camp in this new game and that seems to be irritating the US greatly. Indian animosity towards Pakistan may be historical in nature, but serves the US cause with them providing all out support to India in her quest for regional hegemony.
India is conducting an intensive clandestine operation against Pakistan from Afghan soil. Indian public money is being used through the Afghan intelligence apparatus to hire mercenaries under the banners of Tehreek e Taliban Pakistan, Baluchistan Liberation Army and other target based splinter groups. Recently apprehended senior Indian intelligence officer Kalbushan Yadev has given away the entire Indian designs of his country against Pakistan. As per this Indian Navy officer serving on deputation with Indian Intelligence agency, RAW, India is involved in extensive subversive terrorism inside Pakistan.
Indian nefarious designs are spread all over Pakistan commissioning huge resources like Pakistani political parties rogue elements in it's largest metropolis and religious fanatics like Fazullah, who ordered the attack on Malala. Indian national security adviser Ajit Doval makes no secret of it while he boasts about hiring the Pakistani Taliban to sabotage the Pakistani state.
Pakistan has tried its very best to make amends from their past after taking a U turn on its Kashmir policy of supporting the insurgency there and supporting the Afghan Taliban government in Afghanistan under US pressure. However, these positive steps by Pakistan only encouraged India to utilize the same resources Pakistan had abandoned to be used against them by India.
Afghanistan provided the perfect launch pad for India to sabotage the Pakistani state. More so, Afghanistan government is a willing partner to the Indian designs against Pakistan for the sake of Indian money and due to US support for the Indian role in Afghanistan. The situation is only expected to escalate against Pakistan, while China-Pakistan Economic Corridor(CPEC) gets closer to its realization.
India won't give up on her hegemonic designs under the Chankiya philosophy it follows. US, scared of the Chinese rise, will only encourage India while strengthening bilateral strategic and defense ties, further strengthening the Indian resolve.
Nationalist feelings in China in response to the US bullying is also on the rise. China clearly understands the Indian malicious intent while it retains its policy of engagement with all friends and foes irrespective. China is awaiting the realization of the One Belt One Road project, which would drastically cut the US influence in the Asia Pacific region. The US maintains her ascendancy primarily through the control of sea routes patrolled by the US Navy. As and when the Chinese One road one belt project is completed, The US will be forced to reconcile with the Chinese ascendancy in the Asia Pacific region. China will obtain the regional super power status through the ground trade routes and modernization of the Chinese military currently in progress at fast pace. US empire on the other hand is torn internally maintaining its external influence on continued debt most of which is owned by China. Indian dreams of grandiose will take the plunge with the natural rise of China through its one belt one road project.
The flagship of Chinese designs of linking it's economy with Asia and becoming a power controlling two oceans, rests on the CPEC. It is but a matter of global repute and prestige for China to complete CPEC on time which spearheads the one belt one road project.
Pakistan is completely on board with China having left with no other choice and in its best national interest. Having said that, until such a time, the Chinese mega designs are not met through the completion of the entire one belt one road project coupled with the modernization of the Chinese military, Pakistan would be mostly on its own. Pakistan needs to devise a military and diplomatic strategy to counter the Indian nefarious designs which includes Pakistan's relation with the US and response to Afghanistan's delusional mindset.
It would be only wise for Pakistan to keep the US engaged in maybe bitter but functional diplomatic relationship. It is a compulsion for the US to maintain this relationship. Pakistan is a nuclear power having the capability to play havoc in the entire region if cornered to the extreme. The US maintains and operates its biggest foreign mission in the world from Islamabad while it no more enjoys the clout it once had in the country. There is no such thing as a free ride and the US must be told accordingly by Pakistan. In the meantime, the lobbying efforts in Washington is a step in the rite direction by Pakistan. The greed infested, easily led US political system can be managed through the use of hired lobbyists. It's a profitable investment for the time being keeping US belligerence to a manageable scale.
It would be pragmatic for Pakistan to entice Iran into forming a partnership. Pakistan needs not to engage in a hostile relationship with a country with which it has a shared history of cultural and economic cooperation. It is only in the Pakistani interest to pursue peace with Iran to stabilize respective Baluchistans in both countries. Shunning away the US pressure, Pakistan needs to complete its side of Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline upon which work is completed on the Iranian side but stalled in Pakistan. This project will provide strength to the bilateral ties opening further avenues of cooperation. Indian investment in Chahbahar port needs to be ignored for the time being as Chahbahar can never acquire the strategic importance Pakistan's Gawader port possesses.
Afghanistan needs to be taken to task aggressively by Pakistan. A Strict border management system must be placed on the Durand line by hook or by crook. Every border violation and aggressive move by Afghanis must be responded ten folds to teach them a lesson they must never forget. Pakistan have played the big brother enough only to suffer humiliation and pay through the blood of Pakistan's soldiers and civilians alike. Afghanistan must be given a taste of their own medicine. In future all vehicular traffic and goods being transited/exported into Afghanistan from Pakistan must be taxed and charged with all freight/transit charges. This will result in the Afghanis utilizing a three times more expensive route from Iran that they have signed up for with India. This should help to kick some sense into their delusional brains. It would also provide a huge benefit to the Pakistani economy currently being haunted by smugglers misusing the Afghani transit trade facility provided free of charge by Pakistan that succeeds in only destroying the Pakistani manufacturers market competitiveness.
Pakistan needs to revive its selective assets within Afghanistan to counter the Indian presence actively. If India wishes to play the dirty game of covert black ops, then Pakistan needs to prove her worth by telling the Indians that Pakistan is seasoned in this game. Pakistan needs to covertly launch a counter strike against the Indian nefarious designs of bleeding Pakistan systematically.
India would never hold back until their own house is not put on fire. Pakistan must revitalize its offensive defense and exploit the inherent fault lines within the India state. Kashmir insurgency needs to be reinvigorated through logistically supporting the Kashmiri freedom fighters. Kashmir's freedom struggle has already been revived by the young educated Kashmiris bearing the flag now. They must be supported diplomatically on an international stage by Pakistan as well as providing them covert logistical support.
India's fragile hold on its side of Punjab also needs to be exploited by supporting the resurgence of the Khalistan movement. As well as the great political divide in India based on state politics must be utilized by Pakistan to spread discontent and internal strife in India in particular in the South Indian states. Pakistan also needs to convince China into taking active interest in the Maoist insurgency in India. Pakistan would be better served in strengthening the bridge between China and Sri Lanka through aggressive diplomacy.
Pakistan needs to further enhance her defense cooperation and transfer of modern technology with China. Through China; Pakistan may also approach the Russians to acquire modern defense technology. The Russians unlike the past are seriously dismayed over the Indian embrace of the US with whom they are fighting "the new Cold War" with.
Until then, China is able to rise out of the US led belligerence against it, Pakistan needs to survive in this world where only the fittest survive. The country has always risen out of the ashes to prove it's sustainability, and it must do so once again.
The future of global economy rest with Asia-Pacific. Pakistan is the only country which provides the critical linkages to the various Asian economies by connecting them through its ground and sea routes. The future belongs to Pakistan, only if its able to hold the present.....
Afghanis better watch out and not to mess with Pakistan. For years, Pakistan has been giving away too much for almost nothing. Time to assert Pakistani authority on border areas, start serious negotiations to repatriate three million refugees, and temporarily close the border entries to Pakistan until afghans start taking Pakistan seriously. Its possible that enemies of Pakistan are inciting afghans to start clashes on border areas, another trick to keep Pakistan tied down to afghan problems thus preventing Pakistan from focusing on its plans for progress. Pakistan needs to isolate itself from Afghan problem at once. Lets afghans keep fighting among themselves for next fifty years, that is not Pakistan's problem.
ReplyDeleteGood one
ReplyDeleteGood Article. Agrees with all. Hope this gets implemented in full swing positively to hold present for best future of Pakistan.
ReplyDeleteGood Article. Agrees with all. Hope this gets implemented in full swing positively to hold present for best future of Pakistan.
ReplyDeleteI find myself incapacitated to comment on the subject. I am a strong proponent of peace in general and amongst neighbors in particular. A peaceful Afghanistan is in far greater interest of Pakistan and vice versa will be detrimental to our strategic national goals. Since we have had enjoyed cordially relations with Afghanistan we should not as elderly brother be now vie for an inglorious ending to our brotherly relations. While Pakistan has made grim sacrifices, I see no shame in admitting that Pakistan has used Afghanistan as a shield against various vicious enemies who have ill intentions to disbenefit Pakistan. Presently Pakistan is under immense political, social, economic and strategic pressure, and it would not be wiser to add to our ever increasing enemy list.
ReplyDeleteI intend to contemplate this issue in a slightly different perspective i.e. with regards to our energy security and associated colossal economic benefits. I believe that countries who consider globalization a threat are susceptible to extinction. There is dire need to come up with the challenges of emerging markets and trade clusters. You aptly pointed out that the importance and position of Pakistan as regards its geopolitical and strategic nexus can never be underestimated and undermined as compared to a land-locked Afghanistan; however, the time to vanquish has come to look more methodically towards our internal affairs. Charity begins at home. We at all levels, either governmental or non-governmental/individual level are unequivocally responsible for the maladies around us, even if we don’t admit so; governments for their consistent failure and people for turning a deaf ear to every deplorable event occurring every now and then. We should not, at all, feel contented with the pace of progress and level of knowledge sharing found among every stakeholder. Complacency, lethargy, and bureaucratic rigmarole need to be eradicated to make transition from a consumer-centric nation to a customer-centric nation. I dream of Pakistan emerging as leading exporter of energy in Asia rather than an importer.
We share our border with China, India, Iran and Afghanistan which have vast untapped potential but that can only be monetized if our local industry out performs other competitors. The total trade with the bordering countries, even after taking into account the surge with Afghanistan remains less than 10% - a figure much lower than the world average of 25% for countries sharing borders, not to mention 40% for EU and 80% for NAFTA countries. We share 1800 mile long border with India, yet our exports are negligible while India has been to a greater extent successful in enhancing her share of trade through diversification of products. At present, Pakistan’s most significant export products, i.e. textile and clothing, which account for 60% of its exports, face high tariffs. One of the decisive factors in this respect is higher cost of goods produced mainly due to higher energy prices or inconsistent supply of energy.
ReplyDeleteI second you that energizing the country/region through timely implementation of inter-state gas pipeline projects would bring much-awaited economic, social, political and developmental advantages. Afghanistan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan and Tajikistan are actively pursuing the development of electricity trading arrangements and the establishment of a Central Asia - South Asia Regional Electricity Market (CASAREM). The development of the first phase of CASAREM to enable a trade of about 1,300 megawatts (MW) of summer surplus electricity to Pakistan referred to as “CASA-1000” carries the primary economic benefit of avoided costs in Pakistan due to import of energy. It is estimated that CASA-1000 would ensure a supply of 5.5 billion units of electricity per year to Pakistan. People are optimistic about TAPI (Turkeminstan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India) gas pipeline project to fulfill our energy needs (1325 mmcfd). Furthermore, it will facilitate cash-strapped economy of Pakistan through provision of royalty (US$ 700 million) and transit fees. This means uninterrupted supply of gas and electricity inter alia to industrial sector, majority of which have already been closed due to energy crises.
Another project which is expected to see light of the day is Iran-Pakistan (IP) pipeline project aimed at constructing a 1,150 km pipeline from Iran to Pakistan's major cities. This project is expected to greatly benefit Pakistan to meet sustainable supply of natural gas. A land-based pipeline is four times cheaper than any other option, even after taking into account transit fee payments to Pakistan. Furthermore, it would not be out of place to submit that such projects are economically viable as levelized cost of transmission of energy (4.97 US¢/kWh) is much lower than cost per unit of energy paid (18.00 US¢/kWh) to upcoming/existing power projects in private sector. Moreover, existing efficient gas-based power plants which have been made to operate on expensive furnace oil due to non-availability of natural gas will be placed on high priority on the national grid. Nonetheless, it certainly requires political will of government who seems nebulous in the labyrinth to success.
Hence, peace within and outside our boundaries is vital for our energy-security and future of the economy of our continent which has already been marred by ghastly unwarranted wars. I sincerely pray that Pakistan plays her role to energize the region through timely implementation of inter-state energy transmission projects and also ensures peace in the divisive Asian region by bolstering unabated prosperity and developmental advantages. And we must boldly face this global challenge.