You are on page 1of 1

(Af-pak relations- Notes)

source Dawn Newspaper:from article "Goodwill strategy"


By Moazzam Husain

Durand Line
Afghanistan was the only country in the UN system to not recognise Pakistan.
Successive Afghan governments refused to recognise the Durand Line.
Then, in 1994 came our opportunity to even up. Mullah Omar, leading an obscure force
calling itself the Taliban, punished an Afghan warlord by hanging for the rape of two minor
girls. The body was left for two days, strung up from the gun of a tank. Mullah Omar
became an instant hero and Pakistan dumped Gulbuddin Hekmatyar.
It wasnt long before ISIs operatives penetrated Mullah Omars force. Based on a quick-gap
analysis this ragtag force was reinforced with madressah-trained cadres from Pakistan.
Next the Taliban were trained in mobile guerilla warfare and equipped with 4 by 4
pickups with mounted missile launchers. Within two years, Afghanistan was
overrun.
Now came the time for the Pakistanis to cash the investment. True to Afghan
style, Mullah Omar refused to accept the Durand Line. Neither could Pakistani
trucks roll across to Central Asia nor indeed could the gas pipeline from
Turkmenistan be stretched across. It was clear that Pakistans investment had
gone sour.
Then came 9/11.
As Kabul fell to the Northern Alliance and Pakistan made the U-turn its options
further diminished. So today with all options closed what are we left with?

You might also like