Trouble erupts in Afghanistan and the after-shocks are felt in Pakistan ... for years to come. Why do we have to pay such a heavy price for being neighbours?
WALI Khan was furious. “These Afghan deserters will destroy this nation,” he declared and warned Islamabad to abstain from accepting Afghan refugees, “I tell you this is the General’s army, it will be used to crush opposition in Pakistan.” His warning evoked thunderous applause from the crowd at Nishtar Park.
Those were the dreaded Zia days — dangerous and unpredictable. Those who opposed dictatorship were deadly against Afghans while his supporters were prepared to spill their last blood for unwanted guests from the western borders. Wali Khan proved wrong: Afghan refugees were never used against pro-democracy forces. They were not interested in dirty politics while most opted to sneak into Pakhtoon neighbourhoods and joined the mainstream undetected, while others went for business. Time passed by quickly and the top Pakhtoon leader had to desert his anti-Afghan policy since Afghanis were everywhere — NWFP, Baluchistan, Karachi and interior of Sindh.
The Afghans did destroy the culture of this nation ruthlessly. People had never heard of heroin and Kalashnikov before the advent of the Afghan problem. The number of heroin addicts soared to millions and the gun culture diminished any hope of lasting law and order in major cities of Pakistan. Almost all political and religious parties relished guns, and brandishing them in public places became cruel routine. From terminally frustrated Altaf Hussain to permanently hopeful Benazir and political buyer businessman Nawaz Sharif, they all benefited from the Afghan misadventure of Rawalpindi-Islamabad. Poor Afghans contributed to enrich political armoury and social decay. They helped in sky-rocketing normal prices of real estate. When many Afghans dislodged from the still notorious Sohrab Goth, they bought commercial centres on the busy Tariq Road almost overnight. They were doing throbbing business in transit trade as well. In old Lunda Bazaar, Afghans bought new shops and edged out traditional Pakhtoons.
They are perhaps the only business people in the world who can take out weapons during minor disputes over prices. Some Afghans openly misbehave and beat their customers in shops and transport run by them. These warriors are at war with those who provided refuge and shelter to them. In the interior of Sindh, they converge as tribal lashkar even on little provocation. When an Afghan girl eloped with a Sindhi boy, within hours a tribal Afghan army was ready to attack his unarmed village.
In Karachi itself, some Afghan are doing a unique type of business: few pious souls among them bring girls from the poorer and deprived parts of Afghanistan after marrying them and sell them to eager customers in the metropolis on exorbitant prices — but after divorcing them properly in accordance with religious requirements. Some daring and charming ladies opt to join the prostitution workforce. They do well by local standards. Even Afghan boys find their bread and butter in the garbage. An army of them crowd local people who go to weekly bazaars or fruit markets. Some are in the cleaning business while others help in creating many bara markets in the cities.
A whole new generation of Afghans have come up during the last 20 years. Those who came young are now in their 40s, while Afghan babies of yesteryear now carry babies of their own. They can never go back to their homeland. The post-September 11 scenario sealed their fate. And the fate of Pakistanis as well — we will have to live with this Afghan reality, perhaps forever. When they came there was war in Afghanistan, they lived here for more than two decades, created law and order problem, damaged whatever was left of the social fabrics in this country. Now there is a war again in Afghanistan, though the adversary is a different one. Afghans are now facing those who helped them fight the Soviets. The Soviets abandoned Afghanistan, and now both the benefactors and the beneficiaries are out to kill each other.
Unfortunately in this war, the major causality could be Pakistan. Already Pakistan is are facing the music. The government in Islamabad, despite all powers, looks in disarray while people and politicians stand divided. The local clergy has declared holy war against the infidels. The common people of the Pakistan are fearful of what might become of this country. They detest everything that can damage Pakistan. They have had enough of the problems Pakistan has faced because of Afghanistan — maybe Afghans are good people but they have not proved good for their hosts yet.
Every new Afghan policy has created new enemies for Pakistan in Islamabad. From fundamentalist Zia to pragmatic Musharraf, things have not changed. Afghans — be in they Kabul, Rome or in Northern Afghanistan — are all deadly against Islamabad. Already this nation had paid a very heavy price for Afghanistan. In the aftermath of US attacks angry protesters are destroying properties in Karachi, Quetta and Jacobabad and Peshawar. The entire Pakistan looks on fire over this burning issue.
Afghans love their country they have every right do what they want there but they should leave Pakistan alone right now. Some sections of the clergy and politicians are out to destroy Pakistan for the sake of Afghanistan. The legendary Wali Khan is opposing those who cry in favour of jihad in Afghanistan now. Perhaps he is right this time round. But he is furious again.
Trouble erupts in Afghanistan and the after-shocks are felt in Pakistan ... for years to come. Why do we have to pay such a heavy price for being neighbours? 
