Junaid Ali Malik |
It seems quite appalling when America blames Pakistan to be an enemy instead of a trusted ally. Isn’t it? Our law enforcement agencies have done everything to rid the land from the terrorists nurtured inside and outside of Pakistan. We have also sacrificed a lot of financial as well as non-financial assets. Amidst this situation, the crucial matter that is not being deemed over on both sides is the effective border management.
Pak-Afghan border is one of the most vulnerable borders in the world. The war-mongers and drug lords have earned billions of dollars and secured their interests through it. The border is known to be “The Durand Line” and is 2,611km long. Khyber Agency, Bajaur and Mohmand are the highly vulnerable areas, which require all-embracing and speedy border management.
Until that, the movement of extremists with varied goals might not be effectively and efficiently halted, and misconceptions will breed time and again.
On a daily basis, about 10,000 and 15,000 people cross the border, and there are about 2000 vehicles with various things that pass through it. Afghans want to have this border open for them 24/7, and there should not be anyone checking them. Same is the case with some people on the Pakistani side of the border. Making matters worse, they are politically protected. The attention-grabbing thing about the demarcation is that neither the Afghan rulers nor the Afghan Taliban have accepted it as an international border.
Read more: Pence visit stokes up Pak-US tensions
In this regard, they always opposed Pakistan. Politicians in Pakistan claim that both countries are religious and culturally integrated; therefore, the border should remain free and no check and balance is required. Although countries in EU are more unified than Muslims in the current time but they fulfill all the requirements related to moving from one country to another. Withal, they have all the facts and figures belonging to the commuters and the equipment they carry.
Until when will we keep on giving the terrorists and extremists leverage to move in and out of the border in the disguise of them being our Muslim brothers. Politicians need to know that it is not about Pakistan and Afghanistan, there are a number of foreign stakeholders that have their direct and indirect presence in the vulnerable land of Afghanistan. They primarily include; Americans, Indians, Israelis, Russians, and now Chinese.
Consequently, it is decisive that political and military establishment of US, Pakistan, and even Afghanistan should do their work concerning border management as soon as possible.
The Chinese role in the Afghan war seems to be constructive, as it does not have ambitions similar to America though it is concerned with American presence and wants to solve this quagmire as soon as possible with practical developments. People on both sides of the Durand Line don’t want proper border management.
Read more: Are Tillerson’s comments going to increase Pak-US tensions?
In the case of Afghanistan, things are severely messed up. More than 50 percent of its area is under the stronghold of the Taliban. Amidst this, it is interesting that after losing so many lives and with the passage of seven decades, now border fencing has been started. However, it requires a finishing point that is again subject to political will.
America would never like to leave Afghanistan this way, as it would be considered its biggest defeat in their history, bigger than the one it faced in Vietnam War. On the other side, it is true that it did not stress over border management to the extent it should have been. Instead of this, the US wanted to debilitate the extremists and non-extremist entities with the assistance of Pakistan ignoring the repercussions.
Pakistan will also be secured from extremists with various aims to cross the border and carry out their reprehensible plan. Americans will have a very meager excuse to blame Pakistan.
For decades, boundary management with Afghanistan has been a political issue rather than a security one. It requires political will from the federal government as well as the provincial governments of KP and Balochistan. It is true to a large extent that controlling the whole border is easier said than done, but the reality is that in the history of Pakistan serious and compact efforts were never made.
Read more: Will the rescue of the hostages be the positive turning point…
If our border is secure and everybody including the vehicles is repeatedly and appropriately checked, no country including the US would have an excuse to censure Pakistan for terrorist infiltration. Pakistan will also be secured from extremists with various aims to cross the border and carry out their reprehensible plan. Americans will have a very meager excuse to blame Pakistan.
Consequently, it is decisive that political and military establishment of US, Pakistan, and even Afghanistan should do their work concerning border management as soon as possible. Until that, the movement of extremists with varied goals might not be effectively and efficiently halted, and misconceptions will breed time and again.
Junaid Ali Malik is a professional writer. He considers writing is the sole purpose of his life. He has done masters in Commerce and History and holds PG Diploma in International Affairs. He is an entrepreneur by profession. He can be contacted at alimalikmalik627@gmail.com or @junaidalimalik1. The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Global Village Space’s editorial policy.