Irresponsible Afghan utterances

The POST, Sun, May,21, 2006.

Pervaiz Iqbal Cheema


Every now and then one reads irresponsible statements of responsible Afghan officials alleging that Osma bin laden is roaming around in some parts of Pakistan and Pakistan is training militants to cause troubles in Afghanistan. Then latest efforts in this vilification campaign are undertaken by both the President and his new Afghan foreign minister Rangeen Dadfar Spanta. Both seemed to have felt that they cannot establish their credentials until they indulge in this kind of disinformation pursuits. The foreign minister’s statement was part of the interview he gave to a German daily. The new foreign minister ostensibly singing the same tune that was so regularly sung by his predecessor. President Karazai’s latest accusations are not just similar to his periodic outbursts when confronted with rebuffs and accumulated frustrations but are also reflective of his inability to control the situation and to secure the desired level of stability despite the active help of foreign forces and massive economic aid doses.   

What really intrigues me is the question how can such individuals holding responsible assignments feel comfortable to issue wild accusations without any tangible proof?  Despite being fully cognizant of continued support extended by Pakistan, one is often surprised by reading such irresponsible utterances emanating from Afghan officials. Two aspects of the situation need to be subjected to analytical explanations; what exactly is the situation on the ground including the whereabouts of Osama and resurgence of Talibans, and why such statements are almost regularly issued.

The allegation that Pakistan is encouraging the insurgents is indeed absurd. Even since Pakistan de-linked itself from the Taliban, it has done everything possible to erode their power and influence among their sympathizers. However one should not ignore the semi autonomous nature of the tribal areas along with their ethnic and tribal linkages. Besides one has to take full cognizance of porous nature of the Pak-Afghan border belt which enables the tribes to move around with relative ease.

Despite the complex nature of the situation in the tribal belt, the Pakistani authorities decided to take firm action against the miscreants and the insurgents and sent Pakistan army into the hitherto ‘hands off’ zone and established number of posts. The army has suffered number of casualties though the number is less than 100. In addition the government of Pakistan embarked upon a massive development program which would indeed facilitate the life in these tribal areas.   

Without giving due recognition and deserving considerations to the substantive efforts the government of Pakistan has already undertaken, the Afghan officials frequently assert that Pakistan can bring them (miscreants/insurgents) under its total control and therefore Pakistan should do more. Such assertions clearly reflect not only the ignorance of history, traditions, social conditions and geographical terrain but also non-recognition of Pakistan’s concerted efforts. It is not too far fetched to assume that such an advice could be the product of those who do not want to see improved Pak-Afghan relations.

Equally important is the linked question that why do the Afghan officials feel compelled to undertake such disinformation pursuits. Is it meant to cover their own incomptencies? Are they being tutored by someone else or interested outsiders? Available evidence clearly points towards the existence of a combination of both these elements. If a comparative analysis of Pakistani efforts and the Afghan efforts to plug the Pak-Afghan border is made, one would indeed be surprised to learn how great efforts are undertaken by the Pakistani side. In fact some observer stress that there is no comparison. Compared to Pakistani efforts, the Afghan efforts are not only negligible but are extremely limited.

As far as the whereabouts of Osama Bin Laden is concerned, nobody really knows much but speculations and rumors about his movements are frequently aired without any substantive proof.  It appears to have become past time of some journalist to inject speculative news about his whereabouts. Various interpretations whether or not he is alive and about his alleged movements are in circulation. Since nobody is sure about the whereabouts of Osama, the statements that Osama is hiding in Pakistan could only invite a reactive response. It seems that Pakistan’s massive contributions to the war on terrorism is being deliberately targeted and undermined by interested outsider’s injections of disinformation.  In fact there are many who believe that Osama, if he is alive, is the areas that are effectively controlled by the Talibans. Indeed the indulgence in blame game does not resolve the problem at hand and therefore it would only be appropriate to refrain from such irresponsible utterances.  

The second question that deserves explanation is why such statements are regularly put forward. Many interpretations are available to explain this phenomenon. First, these statements in many ways are reflective of Afghan official’s slow march towards stability. Inability to check the rising incidents of Talibans along with Afghan police ineffective control of situation find some solace in putting the blame elsewhere. Such pursuit does not resolve the problem. Angry tones and unsubstantiated accusations cannot cover one’s own incompetencies and the resultant half-hearted efforts. On the contrary such accusation could invoke strong reactions and can have undesired adverse impact even on friends.

Second, it is generally acknowledged that patrolling on the Afghan side of the Durand Line is not all that effective. Admittedly most of the time patrolling on the other side is jointly undertaken by both the Afghans and ISAF forces but the foreign forces are heavily dependent upon their Afghan counterparts. It is the Afghan forces who should play key role. Not only they are well familiar with the terrain but they are also comprehensively aware of movements of the tribes living on both sides of the Durand Line. The joint exercise of Pakistani, Afghani and American armies must have provided penetrating insight to deal with such eventualities.

Third, there is no doubt that the increasing demonstration by Talibans of their presence indeed make things somewhat more difficult for the Afghan government but this does not mean that the  Government of Pakistan is involved in any way. One can think of some sympathizers of Taliban living on this side of the Durand may have extended some support but in no way this support can be attributed to the Government of Pakistan. It is a well acknowledged fact that not only the Pakistanis have undertaken many operations against the miscreants and insurgents but have also made concerted efforts to plug the holes on the Durand Line.      

Fourth, it has been pointed out that the poppy cultivation has increased during the recent times. In fact it has been reported that drug trade is flourishing and drug have become an integral part of political and commercial life. One report even indicated that the drug economy is now equal to 50-60% of Afghanistan’s GDP. It is also reported that 87% of world’s heroine currently comes from Afghanistan. The drug trade is highly corrosive of good governance. It has been reported that many ‘senior leaders, police and other officials throughout the country are intimately involved in the drug trade and some drug barons are senior figures supporting Hamid Karazai presidency’.  Similarly the Talibans have also access to drug funds. One has to carefully assess how many senior officials of Afghan government are either directly involved are sympathetic to the activities of the drug barons.

Undoubtedly a combination of corruption, administrative lapses, drug trade, escalation in insurgency, banditry has facilitated lawlessness in Afghanistan. To divert attention from these difficult problems, the frequent blame game is unlikely to improve the situation. Instead Afghanistan should be seeking help from all the willing countries including Pakistan to guide and extend more guidance and assistance in order to improve the situation. Pakistan has repeatedly demonstrated its good intension to do whatever it could do to facilitate the Afghan government to find a way out of these problems. But the blame game, whether under the advice of so called friends of Afghanistan or to cover its own inabilities and lapses, is not conducive to improved Pak-Afghan relations and could take a tool of goodwill among the Pakistanis.

The writer works for Islamabad Policy research Institute.