Wakhan Corridor!

Area Map

 

What is really going on in South Asia and how is Afghanistan back in the middle of it? 

I know it is exhausting to go back again and again about Afghanistan but really that is what is happening so  that's what you have to talk about.

In my experience a lot of people have greeted me with a Salam Wa le Kum; traditional Islamic greeting! I do not really mind and have answered back appropriately as Wa le Kum Assalam. The trouble with all that is that I am not a muslim or even remotely middle eastern. I do not have a beard nor do I dress like one. For some reason people assume one or the other. I have never been able to point to the reason behind it. Interestingly it is only a Pakistani that shows regret ; some times very visibly after coming to know of my identity. Greeting a kafir must be a great sin !

You know who does not think so ? Pretty much every body else! Iranian , Syrian , Indonesian ; all firmly muslim communities. One group that sticks out amongst them is Afghans. They are positively beaming because I am an Indian. I am confused! All these were supposed to be hard line Islamists ; even terrorist sympathizers if not terrorists themselves and Pakistan was supposed to be an ally in the fight against extremism! Yet on ground their training, indoctrination, culture and thought process is not like a normal person of the Islamic faith. I do have a theory about it but that  we shall explore some other time.

Afghanistan has been in the eye of the storm for a very long time. In the Indian context Gandhari married to Dhritrashtra was from Ghandhar- modern name Kandahar. So was mama Shakuni. Without these two characters Mahabharat would not have taken place; nor would there be a need  for Lord Krishna to give his battlefield sermon! Lynch pins of  our entire history, culture, society; morality and ethics.

Taliban wresting control of Afghanistan was considered a major boost to Pakistan.Their dream of achieving strategic depth became real. It was their handpicked group too. For a few years it did seem so. A number of Indian consulates got closed and eventually Indian embassy too. India's investments in Afghanistan in form of the hospital ; parliament and other infrastructure seemed wasted in a way and all running projects stalled. 

Taliban went on their merry way -very regressive; anti women; Islamic extremist ideology. This only suited pakistan ; since this countered Indian broadening influence.

As usual Pakistan celebrated too soon. They hit a decoy and start a victory parade for dowing rafale! They convince themselves that they have won , while their 93,000 troops are making a cowardly surrender.

 Anyway there are other players in the arena. Lots of them. Among other things USA apparently wants Bagram airport where they can make a base to check China and Iran from. They have already paid the local goon Pakistan to create trouble with Afghanistan. That might allow US to intervene and maybe wrangle a sweet deal. Pakistan wants Afghanistan to be their hinterland in case of war with India and an arms length away camp/training ground for their terrorist assets. Pakistan also eyes the control of the wakhan Corridor to have connectivity to erstwhile soviet republics; china and create a defensive line when India tries to take POK back.

China is apparently also interested;  one it helps their belt and road initiative and control on the area helps them manage the rebellion in adjacent Chinese territories.

Wakhan corridor of Afghanistan ; if you check the map sits where China , Tajikistan and India meet . I know ; I know that part of India is under Pakistan's control. Nevertheless it is right there at the civilizational, historical and financial meeting point. 

Taliban have a medieval mindset. Their behaviour has not left the sixth century. Their attitude to women is shamefully obnoxious. That however does not make them stupid.

They have realized that notwithstanding the fluffy talk of Islamic brotherhood; Afghanistan has been short changed by fellow Islamists. Durand line that delineates the border between British India and Afghanistan was forced by the British. Upon their departure from the Indian Subcontinent and the resultant partition of India, it made Pakistan the heir. This fellow muslim nation has not lifted a finger to address this issue except calling it a permanant border.

Afghanistan also remembers how Pakistan leveraged the soviet occupation to their benefit. Where Afghanistan became cannon fodder;  Pakistan became rich! At least their generals siphoned off dollars by the  bucket load.

They also remember how Pakistan provided the bases and facilitated continuous bombing of afghan targets by the USA after Russia left.

So several thousand Afghan National are in Pakistan. They were literally invited in by Pakistan with express approvals of the US during the soviet times. It suited the anti Russia narrative. Now 45 years later they are being hounded out. Their third generation are adults now. These people have mostly worked in food industry and transport sector. Hard jobs no body wants. It is pressure tactics to soften Afghans for to give concessions to the US.

India  is largely seen as an ally of Russia which is a black mark in Taliban eyes.  Despite an ideological bias and religious animosity towards India and incidents of direct confrontation like plane hijacking etc. Taliban has mostly avoided antagonising India.

India earned it by continuously investing in Afghanistan infrastructure. These are visible symbols of goodwill and diplomacy. A hospital does not differentiate between people of differing ideologies. Taliban realises that India helped big time; even if it was not all altrustic or aligned ideologically. 

Mulla muttaqui's visit to India and restarting of full diplomatic ties are really an interesting development. It needs to be read with how Pakistan is making things hot for Afghans; and What slice of the pie America wants. Afghans can make life easier for themselves and India can help there. Afghans can make life tough for the American proxy in the region; Pakistan. India can help there too. 

One takeaway from all this is that one should not celebrate too soon! Neither should you be quick to give up.Interesting times ahead. Keep you eyes glued to the tv news.