Pak-Afghan Cooperation

The POST, Sun, Dec,30, 2007.

Pervaiz Iqbal Cheema

President Karazai’s recent Pakistan visit has resulted in assertion of increased cooperation between the two countries. Not only the President Musharraf and President Karazai held exclusive meeting which was followed by delegation level talks, both presidents agreed that extremism and terrorism were destroying both the countries. Both the presidents agreed over the need to enhance cooperation between the two countries and vowed a joint effort to eliminate these menaces. 

In a joint press conference President Musharraf spelled out that they have discussed the need for surveillance and greater intelligence sharing between the two countries. They stressed that the increased intelligence cooperation would bring peace and stability in the region. President Musharraf pointed out that the improved cooperation between the intelligence agencies is the key to effectively fighting the twin menaces of extremism and terrorism. 

Addressing a dinner hosted in the honor of visiting President Karazai in the Presidential House, President Musharraf highlighted the fact that Pakistan stands to lose more than any other country from Afghanistan’s instability and vowed not to allow any one to use Pakistani soil as a launching pad against Afghanistan. He regretted that drug smuggling and weapon culture along with extremism was introduced via the war on terrorism. He further stressed that both countries would have to work jointly to eliminate these evils. 

On his part President Karazai highlighted the current sharp increase in violence this year amid global concerns about resurgence of Al Qaeda and Taliban. Not only he thanked Pakistan for offering 1000 scholarships for Afghan students but also acknowledged that Pakistan was extremely interested in having a peaceful, stable, united, and progressive Afghanistan as its next door brotherly country. He further stated that the destinies of the two countries are inter-twined and ‘militancy and talibanisation are neither the future of Pakistan nor of Afghanistan’. 

Over last few years relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan have experienced sharp ups and downs. At times sharp words and accusative approaches have also been employed which inevitably resulted in sharp decline of relationship. However it needs to be stressed the last few months has seen relatively more positive trends than what was the case in the past. During the current visit the Afghan President not only met the former prime minister Benazir Bhutto but also repeatedly referred to his counterpart in Pakistan as ‘my brother’ which indeed is reflective of a more realistic and friendly orientation of the current approach. He further stressed that he has discussed issues of vital importance to the future of the two nations with Pakistani President. 

There is no doubt that the panacea of Afghan troubles revolves around what can be termed as ‘cooperative and friendly relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan. To put the blame for its own internal troubles on the good intentioned Pakistanis had only strengthened the hands of those who do not want to see the advent of stable and a friendly Afghanistan. In recent times many articles have appeared in non regional magazines depicting vast network of corruption, highhandedness of war lords, breakdown of law and order, inefficiency of the Afghan administrative net work even in those area where Taliban have no presence and are far away from Pakistani border. Indeed both the internal and external elements are actively working to sabotage the constructive drift towards what the Pakistanis want a stable and peaceful Afghanistan. 

Neither the frequent meetings of the tripartite commission nor American efforts to narrow the periodically emerging differences between the two countries appeared to have shed the mutual suspicions that have been creeping over the years.  To evolve cooperative and friendly relations with Pakistan, the Afghan rulers needed to shed the policy of shifting responsibilities and frequently employed blame-game. Instead it should focus more on making concerted efforts to effectively deal with its internal problems such as corruption, war lords, drug barons, improving administrative network, and initiating the much desired dialogue with all the estranged elements within Afghan society. 

Not only the leaders of Pakistan had repeatedly offered to help the Afghan rulers but even some eminent Americans analysts also made many constructive suggestions to improve ties with Pakistan. These suggestions included the removal of contrived irritants like not recognizing Durand Line as a settled border in congruence with 1893 treaty, to respect Pakistan’s sensitivities, the United Nations should arrange a high level international conference to be attended by all Afghanistan’s neighbor. 

It is not too far fetched to assume that the best option for the Afghan government is to seek greater cooperation of Pakistan as has been suggested by many Pakistani as well as foreigners. Too much reliance on the advice and support of non- Afghan elements is unlikely to pay the desired level of dividends. Since Pakistan has been consistently helping the Afghan in many ways, the Afghan regime needs to take full cognizance of the ground realities and make concerted efforts to assuage Pakistani concerns rather than further alienating the Pakistanis. 

Undoubtedly the current visit of President Karazai has further strengthened the cooperative process that was initiated during the Grand Jirga which was held earlier this year. It is hoped that the Afghan officials, by now, must have fully comprehended the level of good wishes and sincerity the Pakistanis have for the Afghan people. 

The existence of five factors has continuously influenced Pakistan’s policy towards Afghanistan. First, Afghanistan is next door Muslim neighbor. Second, Pakistan had not only welcomed the Afghan refugees with open arms but continue to play host to around 2.5 million Afghan refugees even after 18 years of  the termination of war against Soviet Union. Third, a vast majority of Pakhtoons live in Pakistan’s two bordering provinces and across the border live the Afghan Pakhtoons. The significance and value of the ethnic linkage cannot be ignored. Fourth, the Pakistanis and the Afghan traders have been continuously trading with each other and even during the difficult periods estrangements, both the commercial communities have remained in touch with each other. 

Fifth, given the rapid economic development of Pakistan the demand on energy resources is consistently on the increase but to meet the increased demand for energy, the local resources are not sufficient, which in turn implies the one has to tap and procure more and more energy resources. Pakistan is deeply engaged in it pursuits to get gas from various sources including Turkmenistan but to transport gas from Turkmenistan to Pakistan one has to pass through Afghanistan. Undoubtedly a stable and peaceful Afghanistan would certainly facilitate the laying of the necessary pipeline and transportation of gas from Turkmenistan to Pakistan. 

The latest visit of President Karazai is likely to further improve relations between the two countries. The joint assertion to fight extremism and terrorism is indeed a good omen. It is expected that the recently initiated upwards curve of relationships continues to grow upwards and not succumb to the derailment efforts of the interested outsiders.

The writer works for Islamabad Policy research Institute.