G-8 Afghanistan-Pakistan initiative

The POST, Sun, Jun,03, 2007.

Pervaiz Iqbal Cheema

In a rare occasion the G-8 foreign ministers invited the foreign ministers of Afghanistan and Pakistan to sit together with them with  a view to provide an opportunity for sorting out their differences over the security perception and the border management. At the end of the meeting a joint statement was issued reflecting foreign ministers’ strong commitment to security, stability and lasting peace in Afghanistan and the region. It was also agreed that the international community would continue to extend its support to the region to fight the menace of terrorism. 

Initiative like this one is not a very uncommon development. The past is studded with similar initiatives undertaken by sympathetic countries. The last major somewhat similar initiative was undertaken by the Turkish leaders who invited both President Musharraf of Pakistan and President Karazai of Afghanistan to meet in Ankara. Apart from addressing their continued support for peace and stability in Afghanistan, a joint mechanism to supervise overall progress was evolved. 

Equally significant is the reiteration of commitment to continue supporting the fight against the menace of terrorism. It needs to be mentioned here that such a commitment is extremely essential and encouraging particularly for those countries which are often classified as the front line states. Pakistan is one such country that has been facing major brunt not only of this menace but also of extremism. 

It is indeed not out of order to stress that the quick abandoning of Afghanistan by the International community following the end of war against Soviet Union in 1989 not only generated negative repercussions for the region but also created an extremely difficult situation for Pakistan. In the void that was left behind not only a fierce struggle for power ensued among the contending groups but it also resulted into the rise of Talibans and Al Quada in Afghanistan. 

In addition, all those invited guest worriers of the west were left in lurch by the sudden and quick disengagement of the US. The choice for these worriers was either to go back to their own country or stay in the region. Most of these battle hardened people wanted to go back to their homes but their own governments refused to accept them into their own homelands. These worriers then opted for the other alternative choice which was to stay in the region and some of them even entered into matrimonial alliances with the local tribes. 

A vast majority of those who opted to stay in the region and around Durand Line began to intermingle with the locals which, in turn, created a very complex situation for the concerned authorities both in Pakistan and Afghanistan. The Pakistani government asked them to register as foreigners but not many of them opted for this choice. On the contrary many of them joined the militants crossing the border freely whenever they were hard pressed from one side or the other. Since the Pakistani authorities have undertaken many measures to check the illegal crossings but the lack of somewhat similar efforts on the part of Afghan government, ISAF and NATO, the border continued to remain as a troubled spot. 

Pakistan has already undertaken many measures with a view to effectively deal with the twin menace of Talibans and Al Quada. Both of these groups were firmly rooted in Afghanistan. Due to Pakistani efforts the back of Al Quada was broken and they began to move out of Afghanistan and started going to place like Iraq and other attractive trouble spots. 

Pakistan’s comprehensive strategy to deal with the menace of terrorism included many elements. Among those elements the cooperation with the UN, employment of Pakistani troops, apprehending and killing of Al-Quada terrorists, rooting out of foreign militants from its own areas, sharing of vital intelligence, banning of  militant organizations, setting up of tripartite commission, part fencing of the border, signing of anti-terror pacts and extradition treaties are just some steps that deserve mention here. 

Another complex problem that Pakistan has been and still continues to face revolves around the Afghan refugees. It has been often reported that more than 2 million Afghan refugees are still living in Pakistan. Despite Pakistan’s regular requests and UNHCR’s efforts only half of the total number of the refugees that was estimated to be around little over 4 millions has been repatriated and the rest are still living in Pakistan. It has been frequently reported that Talibans use these refugee camps for deceiving the pursuing law and order agencies. It is indeed very difficult to differentiate between a Taliban and an Afghan refugee as both are Afghans. 

The Pakistani foreign minister’s assertion at the G-8 meeting that the threat of extremism and terrorism can best be met by a holistic approach is indeed very appropriate. He also stressed that efforts to create peace and security should go hand and hand with reconstruction and revival of the Afghan economy. This indeed is extremely important. Indeed Pakistan has been continuously engaged in alleviating the plight of the Afghans. A stable and peaceful Afghanistan is beneficial for Pakistan in many ways. 

Undoubtedly the G-8 initiative reflects international community’s long term commitments to long term sustainable development of Afghanistan. It is earnestly hoped that such a commitment pays the desired dividends and the developmental process in Afghanistan is accelerated on one hand and the G-8 sustains its resolve to help Afghanistan. Indeed the presence of ISAF and NATO forces itself represent the desire of the international community’s interests to secure a stable Afghanistan which in turn would facilitate the developmental efforts in Afghanistan. 

As far as Pakistan is concerned, its interest in peaceful and stable is not just well known but has also been frequently acknowledged by both the insiders as well as the outsiders. Periodically there have been irritation and irksome developments between the two governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan, but it appears that both are well set on a constructive path to secure a peaceful and stable Afghanistan. To remove the both the inadvertent and deliberately contrived injection of undesirable irritants and deal with the situation effectively the latest mutually agreed move that has been undertaken revolves around the Jirga Process. The Jirga process has already held few meetings and is earnestly engaged in finalization of modalities for holding peace. 

It is indeed a welcome development that G-8 held a special session in which the foreign ministers of Afghanistan and Pakistan were invited to sort out the differences in order to accelerate the process of securing a stable and peaceful Afghanistan. Such initiatives could be extremely useful in removing inadvertent creeping of undesired irritants and extending encouragement to the involved parties which in turn could facilitate and even accelerate the peace processes.

The writer works for Islamabad Policy research Institute.