Pakistani defense analyst Lt Gen (r) Amjad Shoaib says it is time for Pakistan and Afghanistan to move beyond the blame game.
Amjad adds engaged in fight against terrorism, Islamabad will never like to open new front with Kabul
He emphasized that Kabul should realize that peace and stability in Afghanistan was paramount for peace in the entire region.
“Rather than blaming Pakistan for its own failures, Afghan government must understand that peace and stability in both the countries are interconnected,” he said
The retired military strategist said it was not the policy of the Pakistan government to destabilize Afghanistan. “Terrorism knows no boundaries. If terrorists can hit Afghanistan with such freedom, they can also strike Pakistan. Already engaged in a massive fight against terrorism, Islamabad will never like to open a new front,” he argued.
“Pakistan’s military is already overstretched. We have a hostile neighbour on our eastern border. We will never like to inflict harm on our Afghan brothers whom we have hosted and with whom we have shared our bread and butter for 40 long years,” he added.
He said the Russian initiative to involve Pakistan and China in parlays in Moscow in December 2016 and including other regional players was cautiously welcomed by the international community. “Growing threat of Islamic State and deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan was clearly highlighted by the three countries. Deadly terrorist attacks have been witnessed on both sides of Pak-Afghan border, targeting innocent civilians and diplomats, coupled with a blame game and heated exchange of words between the two neighbours,” he added.
He said stereotyping and simplification of this blame game has not served the interests of both Pakistan and Afghanistan.
He also lambasted the US by asserting, “Afghanistan seems to have disappeared from the United States radar in the months to the run-up to the US presidential elections resulting in a void which the China-Pakistan-Russia Troika has exploited to US disadvantage. In 2017, the United States would be well-advised not to let the China-Pakistan-Russia trilateral muscle into what rightly deserves to be called United States strategic turf”.
In this situation, Pakistan also needs to increase its footprint of soft power by helping Afghan people and the government in areas like higher education, poverty alleviation and health. Pakistan also needs to take on board regional powers like Russia, China, Iran, Gulf States and Turkey for a lasting solution to Afghan imbroglio.
Source: Daily Times
