Terror staging comeback in Afghanistan's dangerous neighborhood
UNITED NATIONS — Afghanistan has long been a crossroads between civilizations and cultures. Its hardscrabble landscape bordering Pakistan, Iran, China, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan—presents a near unconquerable mountainous land populated by a quilt work of tribes and warlords. In recent years it was ruled by the Islamic fundamentalist Taliban who in turn provided safe haven for terrorists including the Al Qaida network. Now despite Taliban’s being toppled from power five years ago, these terrorists seem to be making a surprising comeback in the rugged terrain of one of the world’s toughest “neighborhoods.”
The ousting of the Taliban regime from power in late 2001 by the Americans and Afghan allies, was a direct retaliation for the carnage of September 11th. A free and democratic system has since cautiously taken root in the rugged landscape leading to emancipation of women, expanded school and social opportunities, a flurry of newspapers and democratic elections in this land of 31 million. But in recent months a resurgence of Taliban activity has not only targeted civilians but multinational security forces from the U.S., Britain, Canada, Germany and the Netherlands.
Addressing New York’s prestigious Council on Foreign Relations Afghan President Karzai advised that Taliban’s biggest supporters are “drug dealers and poppy growers.” He added that serious drug eradication programs will need at least ten to fifteen years for nationwide success.
President Karzai appears both a serious and congenial man, an erudite and engaging figure of stature and authority in a land of competing ethnicities, tribes and political visions
On the counterpoint, Pakistan’s President Musharraf told the UN bluntly, “Peace and stability in Afghanistan is in Pakistan’s vital interest. It will assure tranquility on our Western frontier.” The problem is that in the mountains separating Pakistan and Afghanistan –a frontier twice as long as California’s borders, cross border gunrunning and drugs are often the norm.
Musharraf conceded “ The unfortunate history of our region has placed Pakistan in the frontline of the global campaign against terrorism.” He added that over the past few years Al Qaida has been “significantly degraded” as an organization.
True but with explanation. At the same time let us not forget that Pakistan hosts some of the most virulent strains of Islamic fundamentalism which in turn has proven a hothouse for the political growth and financing or Taliban and other extremists.
President Musharraf told correspondents that “since 1979 Pakistan has borne the brunt of what happens in Afghanistan.” This comment alluded to the Soviet invasion and occupation of Afghanistan which was the root cause not only of the violence, but of millions of Afghan refugees fleeing to Pakistan. Indeed the rise of Islamic fundamentalist groups to fight the Soviets some of whom later then morphed into Taliban, led to the destabilization of the past quarter century.
Today both countries are haunted by this legacy and the aftermath of a conflict which Karzai admits, “radicalization began with the war against the Soviets.”
While there’s an uneasy mistrust between the Pakistani and Afghan governments, it’s important to note that the restive border regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan are still populated by tribal groups not under the direct control of either government. This remains a clearly destabilizing factor in a fragile region.
Karzai concedes, “Afghanistan cannot prosper without the best of relations with Pakistan. Terror has no boundaries or friends.” He pleaded impassionedly, that countries “cannot compromise with terror.”
If we are serious about winning the war on terror we must stabilize Afghanistan as to eradicate the roots of despair and extremism. As Secretary of State Condi Rice warned, “If Afghanistan does not complete its democratic evolution and become a stable state, it’s going to come back to haunt us.”
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