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US should respect Pakistans need for political space: CSIS
* Experts say India has been active on more fronts in Afghanistan than Pakistan
By Khalid Hasan
WASHINGTON: With a new government in Pakistan determined to convince its people that Pakistan is defending its own interests rather than following a United States lead, US policy will need to respect the Pakistan governments need for political space, according to a commentary published here.
Noted South Asia expert Teresita C Schaffer and Raja Karthikeya Gundu argue in the current issue of South Asia Monitor, published by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), that a fine balancing act is needed between India and Pakistan in Afghanistan to ensure Kabuls smooth transition, peace, and economic growth. Recalling the bitter history of relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, they note that while Pakistan charges Afghanistans government with turning a blind eye to the arms and drug trade, Afghanistan charges that the Taliban operate out of safe havens in Pakistan. India, on the other hand, has wanted to protect and expand its stake in Afghanistan in order to prevent the consolidation of an anti-India bloc extending westward from Pakistan. It had been blindsided by the Soviet decision to invade Afghanistan in 1979 and was determined to remain closely involved and avoid another unpleasant surprise.
The two writers note that India opened four consulates in Afghanistan and took an active part in the countrys reconstruction efforts. India has also expanded its relations with the Central Asian countries to Afghanistans north and west, a move that has sparked some of the competitive impulses within Pakistan. This Indian presence stoked Pakistans fears. Pakistan charged that the Indian consulates provide cover for Indian intelligence agencies to run covert operations against Pakistan. Pakistan has accused India of operating in collusion with the Afghan Ministry of Tribal Affairs and the Afghan intelligence service to fund and arm rebels of the Baloch Liberation Army who are carrying out a separatist insurgency in Pakistan. Pakistans fears of encirclement by India have been compounded by the Indian Air Forces new facility in Farkhor, Tajikistan.
More active: In Afghanistan, Schaffer and Gundu point out, India has been active on more fronts than Pakistan, partly owing to New Delhis closer ties with the former Northern Alliance members of Karzais government. Indias role in Afghan reconstruction as an exertion of its soft power, is
viewed by Pakistan with concern. Both India and Pakistan have economic stakes in Afghanistan.
Estimates of the annual volume of gray market trading from Pakistan to Afghanistan run as high as $10 billion. A strong parallel economy run by Afghan Pushtuns has also emerged in Balochistan.
* Experts say India has been active on more fronts in Afghanistan than Pakistan
By Khalid Hasan
WASHINGTON: With a new government in Pakistan determined to convince its people that Pakistan is defending its own interests rather than following a United States lead, US policy will need to respect the Pakistan governments need for political space, according to a commentary published here.
Noted South Asia expert Teresita C Schaffer and Raja Karthikeya Gundu argue in the current issue of South Asia Monitor, published by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), that a fine balancing act is needed between India and Pakistan in Afghanistan to ensure Kabuls smooth transition, peace, and economic growth. Recalling the bitter history of relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, they note that while Pakistan charges Afghanistans government with turning a blind eye to the arms and drug trade, Afghanistan charges that the Taliban operate out of safe havens in Pakistan. India, on the other hand, has wanted to protect and expand its stake in Afghanistan in order to prevent the consolidation of an anti-India bloc extending westward from Pakistan. It had been blindsided by the Soviet decision to invade Afghanistan in 1979 and was determined to remain closely involved and avoid another unpleasant surprise.
The two writers note that India opened four consulates in Afghanistan and took an active part in the countrys reconstruction efforts. India has also expanded its relations with the Central Asian countries to Afghanistans north and west, a move that has sparked some of the competitive impulses within Pakistan. This Indian presence stoked Pakistans fears. Pakistan charged that the Indian consulates provide cover for Indian intelligence agencies to run covert operations against Pakistan. Pakistan has accused India of operating in collusion with the Afghan Ministry of Tribal Affairs and the Afghan intelligence service to fund and arm rebels of the Baloch Liberation Army who are carrying out a separatist insurgency in Pakistan. Pakistans fears of encirclement by India have been compounded by the Indian Air Forces new facility in Farkhor, Tajikistan.
More active: In Afghanistan, Schaffer and Gundu point out, India has been active on more fronts than Pakistan, partly owing to New Delhis closer ties with the former Northern Alliance members of Karzais government. Indias role in Afghan reconstruction as an exertion of its soft power, is
viewed by Pakistan with concern. Both India and Pakistan have economic stakes in Afghanistan.
Estimates of the annual volume of gray market trading from Pakistan to Afghanistan run as high as $10 billion. A strong parallel economy run by Afghan Pushtuns has also emerged in Balochistan.
