The Nation, Pakistan
It Isn't Pakistan's Fault that Afghans Support the Taliban

EDITORIAL

May 24, 2006

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OF late, charges and counter-charges about fomenting trouble in their respective territories have been flying across the Pakistan-Afghan border. But the fact is that the reason the Taliban have intensified their activity in Afghanistan is that they have free reign in the country, and neither the government nor U.S.-led NATO forces, which are unwilling to step very far from the capital, exercise vary much control beyond Kabul.

Apparently, the Taliban enjoy widespread support among the local population. Both Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri and Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam have reacted sharply to the latest accusations from President Hamid Karzai and Afghan Foreign Minister Rangeen Spanta. Spokesperson Aslam said that while Kabul blames Islamabad for its failure to control the internal unrest, elements hostile to Pakistan were in fact using Afghan territory with impunity to carry out terrorist acts on our soil.

In short, the Afghan allegations are that: Pakistan maintains camps on its territory to train terrorists who cross over into Afghanistan and create serious law and order problems there and that it provides a sanctuary for leaders of al-Qaeda who freely direct the anti-Afghan operations.

In addition, the Afghan President recently made the revelation that Islamabad wants to use his nation as its own military base, and he reminded Pakistan that the days when Afghan Governments were made in Islamabad ended when the Afghans become masters of their own destiny.

Mr. Karzai had better seriously ponder Mr. Kasuri's remark that Pakistan was a nuclear power, possessed missiles and didn't need strategic depth [Afghan territory] to defend itself. If circumstances changed, might it be desirable for Islamabad to think in terms of strategic depth? With changes in military strength, defense doctrines take on different purposes and dispositions. If in the past, Pakistan's defense doctrine foresaw the need for strategic depth [using Afghan territory], that hardly seems relevant today.

Undoubtedly, though, it is imperative for both countries to develop a relationship of friendship and deep understanding. They are neighbors as well as followers of the same faith, and have many points of common interest. It is time to think coolly. Perhaps a good starting point for defusing the tension would be to take up Foreign Minister Mr. Kasuri's proposal to hold regular meetings between the two foreign ministers.

The briefing by the Foreign Office spokesperson also revealed the alarming fact that thousands of Pakistanis, accused mostly of minor infractions of law, were lying in foreign prisons. It isn't clear what our consulates have been doing to get them released. Earnest efforts must be made to ensure their freedom as early as possible. Plans for a delegation to visit Guantanamo Bay should be constituted immediately to extend all necessary help to Pakistanis held there.

VIDEO FROM AFGHANISTAN: AL-QAEDA ATTACK AGAINST U.S.FORCES

INTERNET BROADCAST: Excerpts from footage showing a suicide attack by Al-Qaeda against American forces in Afghanistan, which was posted on Islamist Web sites, May 4, 00:04:36, Via MEMRI

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