Kabul: Pakistan has today fallen into the pit which it was digging for others for decades. Afghanistan, which Pakistan considered as its ‘strategic depth’, has today become its enemy. The situation is that Pakistan, which was shouting about ‘Atom Bomb’, is now being warned by Taliban about ‘Human Bomb’. After all, what mistake did Pakistan, which celebrated the Taliban’s capture of Kabul, commit in the last 4 years that now it has to suffer further bloodshed? Why is there so much hatred towards Pakistan among the people of Afghanistan? And the most important question – for India, how beneficial is it for Pakistan to get burnt in the fire of war? To know the answers to all these burning questions, we had an exclusive conversation with Strategic Analyst, former Defense Attache of India in Afghanistan and retired Major General of the Indian Army, Sanjay Meston. Special conversation on the historical dispute of Durand Line of Pakistan-Afghanistan, India-Afghanistan friendship and Pakistan’s mistake.
Durand Line- In 1893, the British Raj created the Durand Line by dividing the Pashtuns. Till date no Afghan government or public has recognized it.
Historical association – During the freedom struggle, Pashtuns like Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan i.e. Frontier Gandhi stood with India and the Indian National Congress. He was against Mohammad Ali Jinnah’s agenda of building a country in the name of religion.
Economic exploitation- Afghanistan is a landlocked country. Pakistan has always taken advantage of this. He buys fresh fruits from there at cheap rates and exports them in his own name and in return sends adulterated substandard medicines to Afghanistan.
If Pakistan itself remains entangled on two fronts i.e. India and Afghanistan, then India should take advantage of it.
He further said that the historical and cultural relations between India and Afghanistan are very deep. India should help them in times of trouble. India can take these steps-
Diplomatic recognition- First of all, India should give official recognition to the Taliban government, like Russia and China have given.
Humanitarian aid- Medicines, ration and essential supplies should be delivered to India without going over Pakistan using Iran’s Chabahar route and airspace.
Military aid- Afghans have the courage to fight, they just lack weapons. India can give them weapons. India can also give them its retired (phased out) MiG-21 fighter aircraft and UAVs.
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