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IT is not just about the hostility of the government in Kabul; more troubling is the fact that the adverse sentiments in Afghanistan towards Pakistan are deeply entrenched in the public. The indignation has heightened over the past years, with most people in Kabul blaming Pakistan for their suffering. Those feelings are especially evident in urban and educated sections of Afghan society. There are very few who see Pakistan in a positive light.
This was very clear during my interaction last week with young students at a private university in Kabul. Education is one area that has seen massive progress over the last one decade in this country, despite worsening political instability and the spreading insurgency. Hundreds of thousands of students are enrolled in more than one dozen universities in the city — a marked transformation from the days of the retrogressive Afghan Taliban rule.
Most students I interacted with in a seminar shared similar views about Pakistan being a villain that is responsible for many of Afghanistan’s problems. Among the audience, there were many who were either born in Pakistan or whose parents had lived there as refugees for decades. Many complained about Pakistan supporting the insurgents responsible for the death of thousands of Afghans. Distrust of Pakistan is palpable. It is hard to find anyone in the Afghan capital willing to speak in favour of Pakistan.
It is hard to find anyone in the Afghan capital willing to speak in favour of Pakistan.
Ironically, there are many in the cabinet and several high-ranking officials in the Afghan government who spent a large part of their lives in Pakistan and benefited from its hospitality. The resentment is not restricted to any particular ethnic group — it is across the board. Even former Taliban officials who now live in Kabul have little empathy for the country which once patronised them. One is not sure, however, about public sentiments in other parts of the country.
Of course, it is expedient for our civilian and military leadership to dismiss these growing anti-Pakistan sentiments in Afghanistan as merely inspired by ‘enemy forces’. This state of denial is, however, not helpful in improving our image. Surely, one cannot deny that there has been a concerted campaign to slander Pakistan and make it a scapegoat for everything that has gone wrong in the war-torn country across the border. Yet one must not gloss over our flawed policies and attitude that are stoking public scepticism inside Afghanistan.
One of the major reasons for Pakistan’s growing isolation is that our entire Afghan policy is built around a skewed security paradigm while diplomacy has taken a back seat. Understandably, four decades of conflict in the region and Pakistan’s position as a front-line state has enhanced the role of the security agencies. But the formulation and implementation of policy should not be left entirely to the security establishment.
In fact, there is great need for diplomacy to take charge in times of conflict. Our foreign policy has suffered hugely because of its direction being determined solely by a national security paradigm that must be corrected in light of the fast-changing geopolitics of the region. Indeed, past baggage and Afghanistan being turned into a centre of a new Great Game does not make it easy for our policymakers to tread the tricky path.
But sticking to the old ways may not help deal with the challenges. Irrespective of whichever government is in power in Kabul we need to work with it and to respect its sovereignty. Our obsession with a ‘friendly’ Pakhtun-dominated government in the past has hugely contributed to public resentment against Pakistan.
One understands the concerns of our security establishment regarding India’s growing presence in Afghanistan, but the issue must not be exaggerated so that it clouds our entire decision-making process. What irritates the Afghans most is our insistence on curtailing India’s role in their country. Its very mention is seen as meddling in their internal matters.
Indeed, Pakistani militant groups having been granted sanctuaries across the border and the alleged Indian connection with these terrorist networks has become a major source of tension between Islamabad and Kabul. But there are also allegations of Afghan insurgent groups operating from inside Pakistani territory.
The question regarding Pakistan’s alleged support for the Taliban insurgents is not only regularly raised at official meetings but also questioned by the public. The rise of Taliban insurgents is seen by the younger generation as the most serious threat to the gains made in the field of education. The number of female students reportedly surpasses that of males in most universities and they want this trend to be protected.
It is not only important to improve relations with the Kabul government, but also to bridge the widening gap with the Afghan people. We have failed to take advantage of our geographical and cultural proximity to win public goodwill and strengthen our economic and trade ties in order to neutralise the antagonists. It is not just geopolitics but also geo-economics that should be driving our Afghan policy.
The recent measures taken by Pakistani authorities to send back Afghan refugees and put restrictions on cross-border travel have added to the indignation. Many complain about long queues for visa and difficulties in travelling to Peshawar for medical treatment.
Now many of them are flying to India that is providing a subsidised air travel facility for those requiring medical help. Unnecessary travel restrictions under the pretext of border management have further alienated the Afghans. The move has also affected trade, with Pakistani exporters suffering greater losses.
Although Pakistan remains Afghanistan’s biggest trading partner, the situation may change soon with Iran and Central Asia making significant inroads into the Afghan markets. The move to close down the border for over a month early this year has dealt an irreversible blow to our exports to Afghanistan that had reached between $2 billion and $5bn in 2014.
Such short-sighted and reactive actions have hugely affected our interests in Afghanistan. Hence it is not surprising to see how young Afghans feel about us.
The writer is an author and journalist.
zhussain100@yahoo.com
Twitter: @hidhussain
Published in Dawn, December 20th, 2017
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Comments (42) Closed
I don't get the Afghans. We have more resources than them. We have more talent than them. We have more fertile land than them. Yet, they want us to treat them as equal. They need to wake up to the reality.
It was interesting to read Mr.Zahid Hussain had a nice time in Afghanistan.
Kudos to the writer for his objective and in-depth thought-provoking analysis.
Afghanistan is the 'strategic depth' of Pakistan Armed Forces.
The strategic depths extent upto Kabul and Delhi!
This is the outcome of the choosing strategic goals over the compassion for the long suffering people.. It is important to correct the course while the sun shines.. else once you miss the tide in your affairs.. only shallow waters will remain..
@khan equals as human. Else Pak is also not equal to one of its neighbour ..
@khan humans are all equal
Can we leave Afghanistan on its own for a while? It will be good not only for them but for ourself also.
instead of diplomacy , Pakistan should build a fence on boarder and to make home right first , after getting what we need then do start diplomacy ,
Most students I interacted with in a seminar shared similar views what they learn around and inform them, sure who is behind helping student against Pakistan... every one take care whoever thing against Pakistan they are unfortunate who are not aware about the truth.....
Thanks to the writer for giving a sound and sensible advice in order to improve our relations with the neighboring country.
It's not only Kabul.. .it's same in Dhaka and Delhi as well. And rest of the world we all know..
Wish this eye opening article be able to wake up the class looking into all foreign relations from the prism of security.
This is the liberal sector of Afghanistan working for foreign offices and businesses on their motherland and doesn't represent the sentiment of general population of Afghanistan.
After a long time finaly a sane voice among noise. Use of force or coarsion can only be an intial response to any conflict. The present divergence between two nations; Pakistan and Afghanistan, will widen over time if military like approach of winning or loosing is applied. All wars and conflicts only ends through negotiations, and on a party's ability to give in while speaking from a position of strength. It is through extended negotiations that you can offer your value proposition. If your proposed values stand on high ethical standards you win hearts and minds at the end despite quasi loss on the negotiation table initially. But all this requires persistance, patiance, commitment and political will. We, as a nation lack all four, let alone the basic understanding on how to deal with the situation.
@khan this is the real problem.This mindset.
They are not grateful to the hospitality we extended, so why should we allow them to come to Peshawar, they are going to other places, good for them, good for us. The present day mantra is your country first, so, let us live by it, yes, we must try to to uphold peace, neutrality and good neighbourliness.
It appear that our educational institutions are not producing the quality of manpower that the country needs.Our public relations,courses are conspicuous by our universities ignoring this area.It is time that Pakistan should establish a commission to reform the curricula of our universities in SOCIAL SCIENCES. Pakistan should produce the best public relations specialists with the cooperation of many departments of the Universities.
@khan Very correct
@khan. This isn't a very appropriate approach in maintaining good relations with other countries.
Same could be said of our ties with US and Americans could also use this smart approach towards bilateral relations. Which by the way they often do!
Arrogance seldom yields good results in foreign policy.
This matter should be taken very very seriously.
@khan, They don't want you to be meddling in their affairs. Is that too much to ask for?
@khan I agree, you have the right attitude. When you have more resources, talent and fertile land, you should expect that the other country to be subservient to you. How dare they have still some self-respect!!
@khan Strange thing! Indians also think the same way. "We don't get the Pakistanis. We have more resources than them. We have more talent than them. We have more fertile land than them. Yet, they want us to treat them as equal. They need to wake up to the reality". What would you say? :)
A true and realistic picture of the matter is depicted in the article! A hostile regime may change anytime, but a hostile nation may not. I wonder how will Pakistan, in the long run, survive between the two hostile nations!! At the heart of the problem is the lack of leadership and political will on both sides. In Afghanistan, we have a weak, corrupt and unreliable government influenced by warlords. In Pakistan, the civilian government is just the captive of the military.
@khan really that is your argument??
@khan they are more honest than you
@khan thats ur problem. U still need to treat everyone equal no matter what u have. Are u giving anything to them
@khan Only deeds matters and nothing else my friend. We must do good deeds if we want someone to trust & respect us.
@khan As soon as you say someone that you have MORE and you are SUPERIOR (more talent) you forget that you can make friendship with that person.
@khan then why you are equating yourself to others even you know that you grade poor compared to others.
Very true, Pakistan has to work hard in order to gain public support. The dialogue and negotiation is the best way to move forward. They are our brothers ..
Time for people of Pakistan to think - why there's trust deficit with all countries except China which is known for treacherous moves.
This can have grave consequences for the future.
@khan More talent than them:-) Yeah right..
@khan if you have more, its better to share than saying that you are superior to them, sharing is caring. treat everyone equal. nothing is permanent. your thinking will never make you a good neighbour
As a result of foul and flawed policies of more than three decades, today we are encircled by enemies on every border.
I have posted other sane comments as well. Not sure if these would be published.
A sane article and a very good in depth analysis. The writer has conveyed honest and effective solutions and Pakistan can secure a wonderful future for its people if thoughts are exchanged on these lines among the leadership.
Both States need to adress issue through diplomatic chennels rather than on open media accusing each others
@Waseem Cheema We should not follow the present das mantra of anyone, for eure not of alleine like Trump.
We need to raise our ethical standard and not just follow.
So, I do not agree with that. We need to work out our diffrences at the negotiation table.
@khan your expectations will be satisfied in your relationship with USA. The way you think.
@khan .. Therein lies the problem.Treat them as equals and they will be your brothers for life.