ISLAMABAD:
Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s recent verbal onslaught has sparked anti-Pakistan sentiments in Afghanistan. People took to the streets in Kabul and other major cities and burned the Pakistani flag over the Afghan government’s claim that Pakistani forces have constructed four check posts in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar and Kunar provinces in the east.
The allegation has been rejected by the Pakistani military and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
On Thursday, Afghanistan’s state television quoted President Karzai advising the Pakistani government and military to “reform themselves.”
“We make a distinction between their (Pakistan) nation and their government. Their government and military should reform themselves,” said Karzai, speaking at a ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of Kabul University, the state television reported.
On May 4, the Afghan president lashed out at Islamabad during a press conference in Kabul, accusing Pakistan of the recent border clashes in an attempt to probably get the Durand Line recognised as the official border between the two countries. In a veiled reference to Pakistan, Karzai said the Taliban should use their guns not against Afghan forces but against “the place that is hostile to Afghanistan.”
Karzai said his government has ordered the removal of the “checkpoints set up by the Pakistani military” on the Afghan side of the Durand Line. The president’s ministers and close aides also jumped on the Pakistan-bashing bandwagon and issued threatening statements. Afghan Interior Minister Mujtaba Patang visited Afghan border police officials in Kunar province, which borders Pakistan, and also announced to send regular troops to strengthen the border force.
Quoting the interior minister’s speech to Afghan border police officials in Kunar’s Naari district, Afghan journalist Nematullah Karyab said Patang did not rule out a possible war with Pakistan over the dispute.
“I have come here to say that you will sacrifice your lives in case of a possible war and would not step back,” Karyab said, quoting Patang.
Last week, Afghan authorities paraded the body of Mohammad Qasem, an Afghan border police official, in Jalalabad. They claimed Qasem was killed in clashes with Pakistani forces, sparking more anti-Pakistan protests in the city.
Afghan news channel Tolo reported Fazel Hadi Muslimyar, speaker of the Afghan Senate, saying the Afghan nation wants the security forces to get ready to join their brethren in Nangarhar province to defend their soil.
Karzai declared his country will never recognise the Durand Line as the international border, knowing well that this stance is not new. The issue is being pressed by the president despite other key issues that need urgent attention.
Pakistan’s foreign ministry swiftly rebutted Karzai’s statement and said the Durand line issue was “settled.”
Afghan analysts expressed doubts over Karzai’s sincerity to deal with the issue. The pro-opposition daily, Mandegar, criticised the president for raising the issue and termed it an attempt to win Pukhtun support ahead of the upcoming presidential elections.
“The president knows that elections are approaching at a time when a large proportion of Pukhtuns are unhappy with him for certain reasons,” read an article published in Mandegar. It also claimed Karzai was attempting to divert public attention from the recent disclosure of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) providing ‘bags of cash’ to his administration.
Following Karzai’s remarks on the Durand Line, some analysts suggested Afghanistan should recognise it as the international border. Former Herat governor and political analyst Engineer Yunas Fakur said in a debate on Shamshad, a private TV channel, that the Afghan government should officially recognise the border to obtain access to the Indian Ocean, free transit and enjoy peace and other privileges from Pakistan in return.
The Afghan opposition is encouraging a diplomatic solution to the tensions. Dr Abdullah Abdullah, head of the National Coalition of Afghanistan (NCA), said Afghanistan’s problems are piling up without much public support.
“Actions should be taken to prevent tensions. At the same time the Afghan government, by relying on public support, can enter into negotiations with those who carried out the encroachment on our soil,” Abdullah said, according to Afghan media reports.
Mohammad Mohaqeq, a senior NCA member, accused the Afghan government of not coordinating with political circles in dealing with the alleged Pakistani military’s encroachment in Goshta district of Nangarhar.
The Pakistani media has remained silent on the issue, while the military and foreign ministry has issued two brief statements denying the Afghan allegations. Most Pakistanis are unaware of the growing tensions between the two countries, especially as Pakistanis are in the midst of a crucial election.
No substantive efforts have been taken to calm both sides, although their cooperation is imperative ahead of Nato’s withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 11th, 2013.
News Soruce: http://tribune.com.pk
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