America has no plans to leave Afghanistan and will continue its presence there in one form or the other. Although Afghanistan has nothing to lose from a prolonged war but the threat is more real for Pakistan and for Iran. This was the opinion of a seven-member Afghan media delegation that visited Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI) here on Tuesday, said a press release issued by the institute.
The institute’s acting president Dr Maqsudul Hasan Nuri briefed the Afghan media men on the working of the think-tank.
The visiting journalists said that the war was a part of US policy which provided it an excuse to prolong its stay in Afghanistan.
The impression that the US would be leaving Afghanistan was wrong since all that was going to happen in the name of exit would be a change in the nature of American presence there.
They said America was not interested in ending the conflict, because then there would be pressure in the region for their withdrawal.
They said Pakistan and Afghanistan should bury their hatchets for the time being to help bring the war to an end, as that would be good for the whole region.
(Read: ‘AfPak’ post-US withdrawal)
The delegates said that in fact, Mulla Omar, the leader of the Afghan Taliban, had sent a delegation to Kabul to congratulate Hamid Karzai on assuming charge as President of Afghanistan, which virtually meant the recognition of the new setup and end of the insurgency. But American and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Nato) forces started arresting the Taliban who had gone back to their villages. This revived the insurgency.
The media representatives also emphasized that the Afghan conflict should not be seen as an ethnic problem between the Pushtuns and the non-Pashtuns.
They said that Pakistan should eschew this ethnic division from its calculations as Afghans are a nation. The Taliban are not a Pashtun-ethnic entity but a group of religious extremists who have an agenda of their own, similar to the agenda of the Punjabi Taliban, they added.
The delegates said that the nature of Pak-Afghan relations has changed in recent years, from what it was before the present phase of war.
The relationship is now based on the common threats the two countries face, and hence require closer ties through people-to-people contacts rather than through media reports, they added.
The Afghan media delegation comprised daily Weesa Editor-in-Chief Fazal Elahi Shafiqi, Shamshad TV Managing Director Naseem Pashtoon, Persian daily Afghanistan Editor Muhammad Raza Haweda, political analyst and Kabul News channel Chairman Ghulam Jilani Zwak, Noor TV Director Noor Rehman Ikhlaqi, Fardar TV Director Sardar Muhammad Rahimi and Pajhwok News Agency Editor Fazal Rahman Muzhary.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 7th, 2011.
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US just wants to waste good money, which is hard to come since it is debt! Meanwhile more go hungry without basic assistance in the country. Basically it is a way to a keep special interests well fed. But, things will wind down because US is in a depression which seems never ending at the moment and due to get worse. Europe is also in a mess. http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2011/09/welcome-to-the-zerocovery/244478/ Welcome to the Zerocovery http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2011/09/the-tyranny-of-zombie-economics-in-america/244588/?source=patrick.net The Tyranny of Zombie Economics in America http://baselinescenario.com/2011/08/18/is-this-a-second-great-depression-%E2%80%93-or-could-it-become-something-worse/#more-9270 Is This A Second Great Depression – Or Could It Become Something Worse? http://www.zerohedge.com/news/bring-out-your-dead-ubs-quantifies-costs-euro-break-warns-collapse-banking-system-and-civil-war Bring Out Your Dead - UBS Quantifies Costs Of Euro Break Up, Warns Of Collapse Of Banking System And Civil War http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/banksandfinance/8742919/European-banks-face-collapse-under-debts-warns-Deutsche-Bank-chief-Josef-Ackermann.html European banks face collapse under debts, warns Deutsche Bank chief Josef Ackermann
People say they want a withdrawal. When they got notice of a possible withdrawal, the US was accused of using and abandoning involved countries. No matter what happens, people will complain on this topic. So, may as well choose the best option for its own interests. Not so much out of selfishness as it is there's really isn't a better option. Anything in regard to public opinion can't be a win. Not even a loss for that matter. It's somewhere in the useless grey.
this is as per the wishes of pakistan. they were heartbroken when US left pakistan after the soviet war and like a jilted lover, has compaljned on numerous occasions.
it reminds me of meenakumari dialogue in a movie, in a tearful, broken voice - "mujhe choddke to nahi jaaoge tum!!". This time amerika said- "mai tumhe choddke nahi jaaunga".
In short, pakistan should be happy that US is not abandoning pakistan this time. Pakistan, get ready for the long long bedding.hahaha.
WOT is a different type of war for which no time frame and streategy can be declared , It is a long war and has to be fought at several fronts . Since America and Nato are getting full support from the world community which includes the support of many muslim countries as well , therefore Money and material and man power can never be a limiting factor before the collective determination of the majority of the world population . The current pause is just to spread the said realization among the supporters of terrorism . .?
No surprise - the USA will revert to a cost effective strategy relying on a few well fortified bases and use air power combined with special forces to target terrorist throughout Afghanistan and Pakistan. The smaller force won't have to rely on Pakistan's land route for supplies - and Pakistan;s sanctuary/sovereignty will provide no safety. In short - things will be pretty much the same, if not worse, for Pakistan.