Afghanistan has periodically
been a victim of foreign aggression and occupation over the passage of its
troubled history. Invaders and conquerors have historically been repelled out of
this mountainous country. If we peep into the rich Afghans’ resistance history,
it becomes crystal clear that from Alexander the great of Macedonia and Genghis
Khan of Mongolia to the British and the Czarist then Soviets no one could
sustain themselves on Afghan soil despite their immense strength and might. It
has proved graveyard for all the invaders. Nineteenth Century marked as an era
of Great Game between British and Russia which was played on Afghan stage when
both arch rivals were struggling for the control of Afghanistan, a buffer zone
between both the empires in order to contain each other from further expansion
of their giant empires. British waged the First Afghan War (1839 - 42) by
sending a huge Army. Soon, they captured Kabul, the Afghan Capital, after a
partial resistance and replaced the ruling emir with a British protégé. But just
in a year, they started facing severe resistance from Afghans that forced them
to withdraw from Kabul with an army of 16,500 soldiers towards the garrison of
Jalalabad. But their exit was so ruthlessly abandoned that just a single person
of their entire contingent was left survived.
History is repeating it self once again in Afghanistan. Nearly eight years ago
when the western military powers, US and its European allies(NATO) drove the
Taliban out from power in 2001 after holding them responsible for 9/11 attacks.
The then U.S., Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld arrogantly declared victory in
Afghanistan, "We are at a point where we clearly have moved from major combat
activity to a period of stability and stabilization and reconstruction". On the
other hand, Taliban after their retreat from their urban strongholds took
shelter in mountainous region of Afghanistan which has always been proved an
excellent terrain for guerrilla warfare since centuries, in order to re-organize
and re-equip themselves against the foreign invaders and their local cohorts.
Initially Taliban led insurgency was limited to Pashtuns’ dominated southern and
eastern Afghanistan but now they are making inroads throughout the country and
posing serious threat to the existence of allied forces in Afghanistan. In
recent months coalition and Afghan forces causalities are at their peak since
the war began in 2001. It seems that the war against Taliban has become out of
their control.
In last June, Taliban militants attacked major prison in Kandhar, country’s
second largest city, killing 15 security guards, and got free all 1,200
prisoners, including 400 Taliban and their Al-qeada associates. In August they
carried out massive assaults against American and French military bases in the
country killing 10 elite French soldiers and injuring many. These attacks badly
shaken their security measures and caused worldwide embarrasment for coalition
forces and Afghhan government. Afghan President Hamid Karazai is even unable to
step-out of his intensive secured compound in Kabul. In last April, he narrow
escaped an attepmt on his life while he was due to address a huge rally
including foregn dignitaries in Kabul in the eve of Afghan national day parad in
central Kabul.
According to departing British Commander of 16 Air Assault Brigade, Brigadier
Mark Carleton-Smith based in Helmand Province of southern Afghanistan “The war
against Taliban Cannot be won”. Western military estimates suggest that 70%
rural area of eastern and southern Afghanistan is almost in Taliban's control.
U.S. Gen. John Craddock, NATO's supreme operational commander, said on October,
21st in London, “I have said over and over again this (war against Taliban) is
not going to be won by military means.” Bush administration is running insanely
behind its European allies to convince them for sending more troops against
ragtag Taliban militia in southern and eastern Afghanistan. But NATO seems
reluctant to give further sacrifice of its troops for this unending war.
This growing resistance, insurgency and violence forced Afghan government and
its Coalition partners to engage Taliban in negotiation in order to find out a
peaceful solution of Afghan crisis. The Karzai led Afghan Government formally
requested Saudi government to mediate between Afghan government and Taliban
guerrillas in order to bring them into mainstream. The idea has been taken like
hot cakes both by US and NATO as they have bitterly failed to curb Taliban led
militancy through forceful measures. The French foreign minister, Bernard
Kouchner, also approved the idea, saying it was "desirable" to have direct talks
between the Afghan government and the Taliban, and offered to host any such
meeting. Saudi Foreign Minister confirmed that the kingdom has been mediating
talks between the Afghan government and the former members of Taliban militia.
On the other hand, Taliban spokesmen Qari Mohammad Yousuf and Zabihullah Mujahid
ruled out of having any kind of negotiations with Afghan Government in presence
of foreign troops and asked for the unconditional withdrawal of 70000 foreign
troops from Afghanistan. Taliban fugitive Leader Mullah Muhammad Omar also
reiterated his firm stance of withdrawal of coalition forces as a pre-requisite
for any peace talks.
Taliban indeed proved themselves excellent combatants so far against their
strong foes despite lack of resources and support which are vital for any
guerrilla movement. But in diplomatic fronts they have to remain very careful
and watchful. Their little mistake can badly undermine their entire movement.
One think must be noted that Taliban real strength lies in their strict
adherence of Islam that enables them to fight against the world best military
powers. Here Pakistan has to play its cards wisely. Both geo-strategically and
geo-politically they proved a valuable asset for us and for the first time in
our entire history, we enjoyed cordial relation with any Afghan government.
Taliban had proved best asset for Pakistan during their rule in Afghanistan.
They curbed all anti Pakistani elements from their soil. During Taliban regime
our western Border was relatively safe. It is evident that since creation of
Pakistan, Afghanistan had been a constant source of destabilization whether it
was in terms of Pushtunistan Movement and Durand Line issue or its close ties
with our arch rivals India and Soviet Union. We should also engage them for
reconciliation with Baitullah Mehsud led Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan due to their
close interaction with them to curb our internal militancy.