Sir,
Please read Charlie Wilson's biography, the US Congressman behind the Mujahideen, you will find your facts there.
I am aware of Charlie Wislon, the Texaqs Congresmen and his activities. In fact, he was also the prime mover for US intervention in Nicaragua. However, one must not forget Henry Kissinger, who was a prime mover and interestingly, he was a Jew. He is the person who found Pakistan ideal bulwark against Communism and Afghanistan and Brzezinski is the one who hammered out the plot at Islamabad after visiting Cairo!
I don't go much by Charlie Wilson since he is a Texan and Texans tend to overdo and publicise their contribution a little more larger than life!
US approched Pakistan and not the other way around, we were under US' embargo at that time.
I believe Zia organised and the US paid and armed. The activities were in tandem with Pakistan in the forefront and active.
Wilson made an unexpected jouney to Pakistan and met General Zia-ul-Haq who dictated him the terms for his assistence.
It was Wilson who convinved Egypt and even Israel to sell Sovjet made weapons to Afghanistan via Pakistan. Under Wilson's watch US' financial aid to Afghanistan increased from merely $5 million in 1980 to $1 billion by the end of Sovjet invasion.
It was Brzezinski, the National Security Advisor who was the prime mover and he actual person who was doing the legwork.
More than 4 million Afghan refugees were allowed to stay on our soil, a whole new generation started here while fed by our government and small donations from the rest of the world. Without our help the Afghan population would have been decimised.
They looted our economy, spoilt the cities with cheap and illegal labor and even today we're dealing with aftermath of our hospitality to these parasites.
Approx 5 million Pakistanis are addicted to heroin thanks to these people.
The question should not be what we have done for Afghanistan but what price we've paid for helping this unthankful nation
.
That is true that Pakistan gave shelter to the Afghans and there is no second opinion about that. However, one cannot forget that Iran also gave shelter and both did so uncomplaining. To claim or insinuate that Pakistan alone did so, is what I am trying to point out.
As far as ungrateful people who are given that could be said of so many! That is life!