This small breakthrough, however, does not change the fact that the Pak-Afghan relationship is hampered by much mistrust. For genuinely good relations to be achieved between the two countries, the first thing Pakistan must do is to set aside its obsession with India. So troubled have we been by the idea that India will be getting a foothold in Afghanistan through its embassies and investments, that we have forgotten that we could have had similar influence had we built as many roads and factories in the war-torn country. Relations will only change once Pakistan treats it as an equal power that does not exist solely to fulfil our regional ambitions. And it should use Afghanistan’s current rift with the US to do just that. If we don’t play our cards right we could end up isolated in the region. Improving relations with Karzai may be our best bet right now since, once the US withdraws, it is sure to lose interest in the region. This, of course, means rethinking much of our Afghan policy and in particular the flawed concept of ‘strategic depth’.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 31st, 2012.
COMMENTS (6)
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@NA
Afghans are grateful to the good people of Pakistan for their hospitality as gracious hosts during their stay in Pakistan. That being said, Pakistani foreign policy vis-a-vis Afghanistan has alienated all segments of Afghan society to the point of no return. Thank your politicians for the current political impasse.
To be relevant in the current scenario neutrality to all groups in Afghanistan is a must. No group needs a spokesman and it is for the Afghans to vote for candidates of their choice.
@Zalmai: Afghans always thankless to Pakistan.
Relations will only change once Pakistan treats it as an equal power that does not exist solely to fulfil our regional ambitions.
Damn straight! Anything less is an insult to the great people of Afghanistan.
Agreed. Had we been in as much love with Afghanistan as much we are afraid of India, we didn't need the fiasco of strategic depth to begin with.
How many times does this newspaper need to be reminded that "strategic depth" does not exist in the army lexicon today and has in fact not done so since Aslam Beg retired as army chief. To this day generals in the army behind closed doors make fun of Aslam Beg and consider him to have been dangerous for the country. Every single Editorial by this again and again beats this dead horse and harms its own editorial and intellectual integrity!