Afghanistan set to get huge supply of military gear

[Sher Malang]

Not discounting that some Pashtuns would also have anti-Pakistan sentiments in Afghanistan, however the fact is that more Pashtuns live in Pakistan than in Afghanistan and I do not see this anti-Pakistani sentiment as a Pashtun wide phenomena.

The problem on hand is that Pakistan feels insecure about the whole Durrand line issue and also the uncertainty in Afghanistan. The only way this insecurity will reduce is if we are in each others faces and interacting at all levels on a very regular basis.

For many Pakistanis, the Tajiks and their supporters are an alien-race, not realizing that they are fellow Muslims and mostly Hannafi Sunni people (something in common with the vast majority of Pakistanis). I think many in Afghanistan also look at Pakistanis as something out of this world. In my own interactions, I have heard some really unreasonable comments about Pakistan almost to the point of ridiculous (akin to some ill informed sentiments shared by Pakistanis about Afghans).

Evils are working on both sides to spread false information regarding each other and those evils are not someone else but Pakistanis and Afghans themselves, Afghans who lived in Pakistan love Pakistanis and think them as their Muslim fellow brothers but the major problem remains the Durand line today if more Pashtun are living in Pakistan but their tribal roots are from Afghanistan lets not forget this but the issue of Durand line will not be solved unless tribes on both sides get enough educated to solve this and personally I think neither Pakistan can make a good deal out of it nor Afghanistan; the solution will remain up to the Pashtun living on both sides.

 

[BelligerentPacifist]

...
For many Pakistanis, the Tajiks and their supporters are an alien-race, not realizing that they are fellow Muslims and mostly Hannafi Sunni people (something in common with the vast majority of Pakistanis). I think many in Afghanistan also look at Pakistanis as something out of this world. ...

That's unfortunate when you consider that many Pakistanis themselves have some level of Afghan or generally-speaking Khurasani heritage. But people can't seem to see historical connections beyond say a century.

 

[LeGenD]

Guys, give some recognition where due.

ANA was non-existent before US/NATO came in to Afghanistan. Building an entire army from scratch is a very tedious and difficult task. Taming the illiterates is an overwhelming job. Therefore, efforts of US/NATO should not be ridiculed and neither should be ANA.

I know that their is feeling of enmity at certain circles within Pakistan and Afghanistan for each other but this enmity should not define our state-to-state relationship. Pakistan needs a stable Afghanistan as much as Afghanistan needs a friendly Pakistan. Our objective should be to achieve this goal.

Apart from media propaganda, lots of things are going behind the scenes which if highlighted may give a positive outlook of Afghanistan. At least, ISAF is trying to project this positive outlook of Afghanistan.

And we are giving Taliban too much attention. Our policy should be to integrate Taliban in to the Afghan government and ANA and not pit them against each other. This is a solution that even US/NATO do not object to.

Also, ANA is undegoing literacy program now. Here is some news in this regard. This move can be a game-changer in the region.

Education is the key to success and progress in any society. Even Allah Almighty's first message to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was about reading.

I hope that a Afghan solution be planned which fairly accomodates the wishes of US/NATO, Afghan people, Taliban, and Pakistan. And if India has some role in this region, it should be positive and not for anti-Pakistani ambitions.

The future of Afghanistan depends upon cooperation of all the stakeholders in the region.

And Sher Malang, you have impressed me. I highly respect all Afghan members of this forum because of their deceny and positive attitude. You guys can help quell some propaganda around us. Thanks for your input.

 

[CENTCOM]

1st bold part : Why they are still there after 10 years ? and Controlling territory :O

2nd bold part : Then again you said that they are on the run or is it you on the run as soon as possible after all you have to pay salaries to your soldiers.how the hell they are on the run when they are controlling territory ?

Btw what did you eat today ?

Dear “Pukhtoon”:

“Why they (Taliban) are still there after 10 years? And controlling territory: O”

We agree that more needs to be done to rid Afghanistan of the Taliban, but that should not stop us from stating the fact that we have made it possible for ANA to begin assuming full responsibility for the security of their nation and the protection of their people. Was this not unimaginable a decade ago? Is this not progress? And progress against Taliban tyranny and towards Afghan bread and freedom continues as we assist the people of Afghanistan in their fight against terrorism.

“Then again you said that they are on the run or is it you on the run as soon as possible after all you have to pay salaries to your soldiers. How the hell they are on the run when they are controlling territory?”

The ongoing successful transition from US and International to Afghan security forces is proof that as Taliban grow weaker as Afghanistan grows stronger.Is this not progress? Were the Taliban in control of the majority of Afghanistan would this be possible? Is this not progress? Do not Taliban chose soft targets, or innocent civilians, because they cannot stand against US, International and Afghan fores? Is this but one more sign of their desperation? Historically a surge of Taliban attacks occurs during the Spring Fighting Season. Have we have witnessed instead a drop in their crimes against humanity during the last 12 of 16 weeks? Is this not progress?

Ultimately, however, while we remain their steadfast allies, it is up to the Afghan people to take the responsibility of sovereignty seriously and to banish the Taliban.

Dear “Pukhtoon”, you can rest assured that our troops are getting paid on time.

CDR Bill Speaks,
DET, United States Central Command
U.S. Central Command

 

[DV RULES]

Evils are working on both sides to spread false information regarding each other and those evils are not someone else but Pakistanis and Afghans themselves, Afghans who lived in Pakistan love Pakistanis and think them as their Muslim fellow brothers but the major problem remains the Durand line today if more Pashtun are living in Pakistan but their tribal roots are from Afghanistan lets not forget this but the issue of Durand line will not be solved unless tribes on both sides get enough educated to solve this and personally I think neither Pakistan can make a good deal out of it nor Afghanistan; the solution will remain up to the Pashtun living on both sides.

Durand line issue is nothing but double faced attitude of Afghanistan.

 

[DV RULES]

Some guys here are really funny! how on earth Northern Alliance would be a threat to Pakistan when they are totally disarmed via DDR! This government and it's every infrastructure, system, military etc.. is somehow indirectly assets of USA and it's alliance; they paid alot for this! anything against Afghanistan will be against USA and it's alliance, at least in the current scenario. Those who badly wait to see Taliban again controlling Afghanistan is a dream and it will stay as a dream! in fact a logical mind would never even dream it, they know Taliban are only controlling wild life in Afghanistan aka goats, sheeps, donkeys, cows etc.. Afghanistan's major population is living under government control. Lets be practical and don't make things difficult for each other, what really Pakistan got in destabilizing Afghanistan? both as Muslim countries should put their efforts for bringing peace and prosperity in the region and kick out this fundamentalism and extremism from their lands!

From this point distances increased, Afghanistan never was thankful to Pakistan and respectively we can't declare Afghanistan as trustworthy neighbour. By the way lets come to reality that more than 70% Afghanistan still living out of government control.

 

[Gandhi G in da house]

From this point distances increased, Afghanistan never was thankful to Pakistan and respectively we can't declare Afghanistan as trustworthy neighbour. By the way lets come to reality that more than 70% Afghanistan still living out of government control.

This is not true .

 

[ali.ali]

I know that their is feeling of enmity at certain circles within Pakistan and Afghanistan for each other but this enmity should not define our state-to-state relationship. Pakistan needs a stable Afghanistan as much as Afghanistan needs a friendly Pakistan. Our objective should be to achieve this goal.

Apart from media propaganda, lots of things are going behind the scenes which if highlighted may give a positive outlook of Afghanistan. At least, ISAF is trying to project this positive outlook of Afghanistan.

And we are giving Taliban too much attention. Our policy should be to integrate Taliban in to the Afghan government and ANA and not pit them against each other. This is a solution that even US/NATO do not object to.

 

[aakash_2410]

Pakistanis don't want Taliban. Aside from some very staunch supporters of Taliban, most Pakistanis do not want the extreme Taliban rule being forced on anyone. This is the reason that there is a war going on inside of Pakistan.

The support for Taliban is actually a support for people fighting against an occupation of their country (obviously Americans see it differently and those Afghans arrayed against the Taliban also see it differently). It would by hypocritical for Pakistanis to support the struggle against the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and not feel similarly about the US one. Secondly, the presence of Pashtuns in the Pakistani social, political, religious and military spheres results in support for the Pashtuns in Afghanistan, which many consider to be for Taliban due to the fact that all Taliban are Pashtuns (but certainly not all Pashtuns are taliban).

For any sane Pakistani, the sufferings of the Afghans caught in this mess are disconcerting. However on top of this, you have layers of complications such as the territorial issues between the two countries and the insecurities of certain elements about each other on both sides and thus you see these complicated, yet not always principled stances.

Do you think this would stop the support for talibans? I mean if it was against occupation then it should stop after US and NATO forces have announced withdrawal now.

And Pakistan has supported talibans before 'occupation' as well. If it was against the occupation then why the support if it wasn't even occupied. Pakistan was one of the only three countries that recognised taliban rule. Even UN didn't recognise this government.

I don't think you have got the pashtun angle right mate. Afghanis pashtuns don't support talibans themselves then why do Pakistani pashtuns do?

I don't think it has anything to do with Pakistani people and I don't think it is Pakistani people that Afghans hate. It is some decisions of establishment and ISI role that they hate. Just like India-Pakistan. Plus as you said territorial and other issues make condition worse.

 

[Juice]

Better to strike now when they are weak. The next thing you know, U.S. will give these illiterate ANA nukes.


By the way, Pakistan can play the same game U.S. is playing. Supplying our enemy's other enemy to weaken our enemy. Pakistan must do everything in its power to safeguard its interests in Afghanistan.

Pakistan is gonna arm Canada now?

 

[Zabaniyah]

Pakistan is gonna arm Canada now?

Seems like it

 

[blain2]

Do you think this would stop the support for talibans? I mean if it was against occupation then it should stop after US and NATO forces have announced withdrawal now.

It should, but there should be some stability. If the Indians and Russians back their horse, Pakistan backs its own, and the Americans their own, we are bound to go back to picking sides. Pakistan has the world's largest population of Pashtuns. Since the Taliban come from the Pashtuns, the Pakistani establishment would support them even though they know that Taliban need to moderate their views. I like the idea of having an integrated ANA and Government with Taliban included.

And Pakistan has supported talibans before 'occupation' as well. If it was against the occupation then why the support if it wasn't even occupied. Pakistan was one of the only three countries that recognised taliban rule. Even UN didn't recognise this government.

This has been visited many times. Pakistan supported a group that had a cultural affinity with a very large grouping of people within Pakistan i.e. Pashtuns. Just like the Iranians supported the Darri speaking Tajiks and Hazaras along with India and the Russians, Pakistan picked sides as well. Pakistani government made some mistakes in doing so, but so did others by pushing their allies in Afghanistan to take a a very visible anti-Pakistani stance. So this is the reality of the situation and I am not saying that what happened in that unfortunate country helped any of the neighboring country's interests. Pakistan is lurching from one crises to another just because of what we have had to do defend our territorial integrity. Yet Pakistan's antagonist in Afghanistan need to understand that making Pakistan feel insecure will pose problems for everyone.

I don't think you have got the pashtun angle right mate. Afghanis pashtuns don't support talibans themselves then why do Pakistani pashtuns do?

I do not think you can make a statement like "Afghanis pashtuns don't support talibans themselves."

No insurgency can live without local, native support. This is certainly not the case with an insurgency that is in its 7th year. There is only so much support that these chaps can get from Pakistan. They stay in Afghanistan for the entire fighting season. They carry out complex operations and survive off the local land and population who are all Pashtuns. So there is support for them in Afghanistan as well. Anyone denying this is being less than honest. On the Pakistan side too, I would say not all Pashtuns support the Taliban and their ways.

I don't think it has anything to do with Pakistani people and I don't think it is Pakistani people that Afghans hate. It is some decisions of establishment and ISI role that they hate. Just like India-Pakistan. Plus as you said territorial and other issues make condition worse.

Well there are suspicions on both sides. ISI carries out the Government policy, which obviously is worried about Afghan intentions concerning the Durrand line etc. The key is for both sides to talk and remove the concerns and set aside the suspicions.

 

[Omar1984]

Okay I don't understand one thing?

Why do Pakistanis want to see blood-sucking Talibans back in power? Because the current government is apparently a US puppet and pro-India? I mean come on guys.

USSR wanted to expand. Result: Afghans paid the price.
USA wanted to break USSR. Result: Afghans paid the price.
Pakistan wanted to destabalise Afghanistan for their strategic gains. Result: Afghans paid the price.

But now US and Russia are at least trying to amend their mistake but Pakistan still wants to see Talibans in Afghanistan. No wonder why Pakistan is the least favored country in Afghanistan.

Easy. Pakistan has had its best relation with Afghanistan under Taliban rule of Afghanistan and Pakistan is having its worst relations with Afghanistan under this Karzai government and this new ANA whose chief makes stupid comments like their border is the Indus River

Whoever thinks Karzai's government and ANA can ever be friends of Pakistan are mistaken. The Pak-Afghan border used to be the most peaceful border we had during Taliban rule, now we have firings like every other day between Pakistan border forces and ANA, it has become another LoC.

And I dont know why U.S. is so hell-bent on fighting Afghan Taliban. U.S. blames Al Qaeda and Osama Bin Laden for 9/11 attacks. Just because Afghan Taliban dont like any interference in their country by kuffar armies, doesnt mean America should spend trillions fighting them.

U.S. just wants a permanent prescence in the country and install their puppets so they can have it their way in the region. Maybe they are the interested in the minerals there but China already signed deals to get those minerals

 

[aakash_2410]

It should, but there should be some stability. If the Indians and Russians back their horse, Pakistan backs its own, and the Americans their own, we are bound to go back to picking sides. Pakistan has the world's largest population of Pashtuns. Since the Taliban come from the Pashtuns, the Pakistani establishment would support them even though they know that Taliban need to moderate their views. I like the idea of having an integrated ANA and Government with Taliban included.

Indeed. 'Great game' is still pretty much on just players are slightly changed.

Afghanistan is land which connects Arabia, Middle east, South Asia and Central Asia. So there are bound to be conflicts in a place of such strategical importance.

America is fighting Russia and India fighting Pakistan for the influence in the region.

Not ALL THE intentions of India behind aid and support are 'good.' But then again you have to admit that Pakistani agencies also had a role to play in desalinising Afghanistan.

 

[Omar1984]

Pakistan is gonna arm Canada now?

Pakistan's enemy is only this CIA created ANA. Not the people of Afghanistan and ceratinly not Afghan Taliban. We enjoyed our best realtions with Afghanistan when Afghan Taliban was ruling Kabul. Afghanistan was on our way of becoming another close ally of ours like China until U.S. invaded Afghanistan installed their puppet Karzai and created their ANA, and invited india to build their consulates near the Pak-Afghan border. I hope you indians are using those consulates to give visas to Afghans. How many Afghans are in India? 50. And how many Afghans are in Pakistan? 5 million.