Afghanistan - a Loaded Gun Pointed at Russia and America!

Afghanistan -  a Loaded Gun Pointed at Russia and America!

By Hafeez Hassanabadi  

Translated By Archen Baloch

The relationship between Russian and America touched the lowest ebb after Russia gave asylum to Snowden and President Obama cancelled his scheduled meeting with his Russian counterpart, President Putin. It is a big subject with lots of other aspects, but in this article we discuss those aspects that are supposed to affect the relations between Russia and America, Afghan crisis and Baloch national question. Like any nation in the world, America is unwilling to accept its defeat. Giving importance to Snowden’s problem to such an extent that its president cancels his scheduled meeting points towards that stubborn attitude that says ‘our demands should be fulfilled at all costs’. It shows emotionality has taken over between the two countries on serious matters such as their importance of relationship. Emotional because, it does not last long; neither Russia would handover Snowden back to America, nor does America can continue to refuse to meeting Putin. Given the geopolitical situation of the world, the relation between the two would thaw and they will eventually meet each other at some point, and they cannot effort a frosty relationship. After all, what is the use of taking such steps in protest that leads to nowhere? Amicable relationship between Russia and America are far more important than the protest over the asylum of a person as both countries are facing difficult situations and most likely to face greater challenges in the coming months ahead. The common problems faced by America and Russia: Terrorism and Particularly Afghan crisis have equal importance that have engulfed world peace, in Middle East and in several African countries, both countries are highly likely to face daunting challenges of terrorism, and of course, the common headache of illegal drug trafficking. Here it goes without saying that drug trafficking is one of the main sources of finance that terrorism has sustained itself so far. Linking all continents to each other is the biggest dream of all capitalists in the region by establishing a peaceful environment and interestingly all these issues and possibilities have direct bearing on Baloch and Balochistan crisis which were once controlled by Pakistan, but that control doesn’t exist any longer as the Baloch pro freedom forces have consolidated their hold on their land and nation, though informally. No problem can be resolved in the region, if Baloch crisis is ignored. America and its allies poured billions of dollars in this war [war against global terrorism] beside the losses of thousands of their soldiers. All this seems to be going in vain, it also seems a recurrence of Russian defeat and withdrawal of 1989 and anarchy once again besieges Afghanistan which would pose a greater risk to world peace. They (Taliban) are the same fanatics, Soviet Union could not defeat them because they were being backed by America and Pakistan, and now America is being pushed towards failure, this time Iran and Pakistan are backing them; as both countries never accept American presence in the region. They have now turned this Afghan war into a successful money earning business. The have employed three big resources to run this business, including drug trafficking and charity collection from madrassas of Islamic countries and, blackmailing and money extortion. The main reason is that Pakistan, which is imploding, is constantly failing to timely reimburse the religious forces, it created to fight India, Afghanistan and Baloch. Now to an extent, they are allowed to explore some sources of their own revenue. And they’ve now started breaking the jails every ever. Money extortion is on rise. Apparently government seems to be helpless, but the reality suggests otherwise, government does not want to catch them back as we can see these Taliban, they come in procession and break the jails and take prisoners with them and face no obstacle. It is, in fact, the prelude and preparation of the gory wars which are most likely to once again ruin Afghanistan after American withdrawal. America, Russia and civilized world must realize this bitter fact that in the backdrop of a scenario where a criminal tries to escape unhurt because he has taken civilian population hostage and the law enforcers afraid to take action against him lest the innocent people get harm. This is exactly the same mechanism that has been devised for the terrorists; despite of tremendous efforts, they cannot stop it under current strategy. For years they have had so radicalized people into Jihadi ideology that whoever goes against their peers will be regarded as infidels conspirator against Islam and they will come out for fighting. They’re now left starved and it will force them to fall into either smugglers’ or mullahs’ mercy. There are only two powers in the region that can provide jobs or two times’ meal – the smugglers and the religious warriors are the two faces of the same coin. These forces have systematically turned religion into opium which has already been tasted by Soviet Union; and now it is US and civilized world’s turn. The drug smugglers and weapon companies will continue to profit until this war has a reason to continue in the region. The more the anarchy besieges Afghanistan, the more it gets easier for them to get their “Job” done through warlords. Pakistan leaves no stone unturned to spread anarchy in Afghanistan. However, the question is if weapon companies, belonging to America, Russia and other countries, support the continuation of the war, then why are they interested in putting an end to this war? To us this question is easy to answer as everything has a limit and here it has reached to its zenith. At this stage if they did not pause and draw a meticulous strategy, Afghanistan, beside itself, would cause tremendous harms, at least, to three countries, America, Russia and India, and its impacts would destabilize the entire region beyond the imagination. It is needless to remind ourselves that there are atom bombs, sectarian violence, nationality problem and religious hatred. In this internet age, all are connect with each other. No nation or group can be stopped from taking strong step or intimated into silence. With a single Jerk, the fire of several proxy wars will intensify alarmingly, which could engulf Russia, India and several other oil producing countries. America and its allies will equally be punished, if this fire directly affected Russia, India, Gulf and Central Asian countries. The first change that occurs in Pakistan and Afghanistan after 2014 withdrawal, the wars that are already continuing in these two countries would intensify. In the event of draw down or complete American withdrawal, the Taliban, with Pakistani help, will intensify their attacks so that they unnerve the new government in Kabul as soon as possible and make people believe that their government is unable to protect them any more. Given the internal and external pressure, Pakistan tries hard to explore every avenue to wreak havoc in Afghanistan so that the war lingers on and Afghan government continue to cripple or even eventually fails. Meanwhile the freedom movement in Pakistani occupied Balochistan will also intensify, and also it is highly likely that the Baloch freedom struggle will inspire the Sindhi nation into a full-fledged freedom movement because Pakistan has already started the same strategy of kill and dump in Sindh to counter pro-freedom Sindhis. Baloch resistance organisations, given their recent sophisticated attacks, will not waste the opportunity of Pakistan’s weaknesses and strike big targets strategically highly important. Pakistan has already lost its state equilibrium, and they do not want it to regain its strength; and that too in such a time when China has struck defence deals with Pakistan for a strategic foothold on Baloch coast which not only poses an existential threat to Baloch but also it will possess one of the world most precious seaports in Balochistan. In comparison with them, Pakistan seems to know nothing about what is ailing Balochistan the most. Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline, Gwadar- to - Kashgar railway line, Gwadar- to - Central Asia Link Track are some dreams shared by Pakistan, Iran and China; if accomplished to success, they can change the balance of power in the region, it is something totally unacceptable to may powers and their completion is dependent on Balochistan and Afghanistan’s situation. It is interesting to note that if the current conditions, with the same scenario continued, then it would be highly likely that the not only the world will directly support Baloch Liberation Army and other Baloch pro-freedom forces as they supported Qazafi’s and now they are supporting Assad’s opponents. As America, Russia, India and Afghanistan are the direct beneficiaries of Afghan peace, and equally, if things went wrong, they’ll be the ones to bear the brunt of the losses. If they continued to ignore Baloch freedom movement, and tried other way round, they will have to face a long and insurmountable war, and at least after eight or ten years they’ll have to come back to the point where they ignored Baloch factor and continue their war for peace. These countries should not inter into any sort of dispute that could distract their attention from the real issue, particularly at a time when Afghanistan is trained as a loaded gun point on their heads by terrorists and drug smugglers. As far as Afghanistan itself is concerned, it needs the support of all peace loving countries of the region and beyond. This long war has exhausted Afghans. Meanwhile, America, Russia and India have to reconsider their policies about Afghanistan after 2014 withdrawal. Exploring the possibilities of having talks with Taliban is just a waste of time. In the pretext of that talk Pakistan continues to release Taliban prisoners by staging the drama of jailbreak and confidence building. In the end they all come together and stand against Afghan government. As it is a sensitive issue, and there’re things that cannot be discussed in open forum, however, this much can be said that current American policies are totally contradicted with the statements it has issued and the steps it has taken. Overall, it is presenting an impression of hesitation and confusion, which will eventually force the policy makers to face the utter dismay. It is to admit that Russia is indeed concentrating its efforts to contain the drug scourge. But, on the other hand, it has not yet devised such an effective scheme that could neutralize the ideology that can wreak havoc tomorrow within its federation. The steps that it has taken in this regard, arresting the illegal migrants and throwing them out, shows that it has failed to understand the real issue; because, it prohibits the migrants who use illegal way to come to Russia and deports them so that they come back after completing legal formalities. Now what would you do when four more migrants inter the country with legal formalities after deporting one illegal migrant? Central Asian Muslim countries could prove to be the depots of wealth for Russia, if only it adopted a right strategy. But steps taken without great deliberation and clear policy, particularly re Afghanistan, could prove fatal. Arresting them from the markets and deporting them is nothing more than a waste of time and increasing the number of the enemies. In precise, like others, Russia too is extremely short of time. It needs to complete 90% of its homework. The Russian deficiency is evident in the fact that either it is unaware of its importance or unable to comprehend how it can play a positive role there. That is why it has become a spectator standing afar. Or all are staring at it with suspicious eyes, and it has failed to assure them that how much Russia is important to bring peace and stability in the region. Indian position is no better than the Russian. There are hundreds of thousands of extremist volunteers ready to go against it and it is the biggest stockholder in Afghanistan. If the conditions deteriorated in Afghanistan, it will face lots of security challenges in the coming years besides economic and political losses. India will lose Afghanistan just the same way as Pakistan lost it yesterday and on top of it, Gwadar as a gift will fall into hands of China, and it will embark upon the schemes that can be highly disturbing for India. In short, it is in the interest of all to stand shoulder to shoulder with Afghanistan because Afghanistan’s crisis never gets resolved until and unless it is attached with the interests of international powers and the Baloch national question in the region. The role of every stockholder must be determined accordingly.