Zubair Atif
Over the course of the past year and a half, the reins of power in Pakistan have yet again been firmly grasped by the military establishment. The governing administration of Pakistan has resolutely set about weakening and maligning Afghanistan in every conceivable field.
Now even though the military establishment has restrained itself in the political and intelligence domains, it has undoubtedly embarked upon a campaign of economically undermining Afghanistan, socially harassing Afghans, and discrediting them in the media.
The reality of Pakistani officials and their true rulers (the military generals) is such that they are willing to transgress any boundary in order to secure their power and survival. Neither Islam, nor humanity, nor any neighborly relations or international laws hold any significance for them.
As soon as the Government of Pakistan (dominated by the ruling military) regained power, it endeavored to deteriorate Pak-Afghan bilateral relations without delay. The government also obstructed Afghan exports and accused millions of Afghan refugees residing within Pakistan of being violent miscreants. Subsequently, they expelled them despite their dire condition. Furthermore, they leveled allegations against the new government of Afghanistan that they themselves are unable to rid themselves of.
The Pakistani regime claims that certain ‘terrorist groups’ are being supported by the Afghan Government and are allowed to operate from Afghanistan. However, the reality is that they have started backing the infamous Daeshi Khawārij against Afghanistan to expand their influence, providing them with safe havens and Marākiz (Bases of Operation) in Balochistan.
These bases have proven to be so effective and secure that they now function as sanctuaries shielding the Khawārij leadership from the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s operations. The entire leadership has relocated there, and have made it their abode, planning attacks in Europe from there, including the one on Moscow’s Crocus Hall.
Recent reports indicate that the Pakistani regime has not only provided safe havens to the Khawārij but has also been endeavoring to offer its “freedom” to the US and the UK, suggesting its territory as a base of operations against regional countries to monitor them, particularly Afghanistan.
The United State is well aware of Pakistan’s vulnerable condition and is now sweetening the deal they have with Pakistan with the aim of persuading it to grant them bases. The US Government has proposed in the national congress that they provide $101 million to Pakistan in order to strengthen their ‘democracy’ and fight terrorism.
If this money is received, the Pakistani military will relapse into becoming the American military’s lapdog (Just like it was throughout the 2000s), wagging its tail at every instruction of theirs, ignoring all codes of conduct and transgressing against Afghanistan. At the end of the day, one benefit this may have is that it’ll provide some respite to the oppressed Pakistani populace from their wrath.
