03-29-2024     3 رجب 1440

Why Pakistan is Uncomfortable with Progress of Kashmir ?

Pakistan’s game plan of using religion in Kashmir is similar to what it did in Afghanistan. It was not happy with a progressive Kashmiri society thus Cinema halls, beauty parlours, cafeterias etc were shut down

September 17, 2022 | Mir Mohsin

“Humne aapka kya bigada hai bhai? Yeh toh ek game hai….itna gussa kyon?” Asked a Pakistani TV anchor after the videos of brawl between Pakistani and Afghan fans post Asia Cup cricket match became viral. Videos show seats of the stadium being thrown by fans on each other and assault on Pakistani fans outside the stadium. One video shows a bespectacled Pakistani fan dancing in a provocative manner clearly trying to make fun of the Afghan fans who were sitting quietly till that time. Other Pakistani fans are seen clapping and cheering for him. This happened just after Pakistani won the nail biting match. The angry reaction by Afghan fans could have been fanned by provocation of the Pakistani fans; but the incident indicates towards a deeper loathing and a sudden manifestation of a profounder acrimony. Going back in time will give us the reasons for the Afghan fury against Pakistanis that is not limited to cricket.

Soon after creation of Pakistan, Afghanistan conveyed its consternation against the Durand Line that unjustly divided Pashtuns. In 1950, Afghan King Mohd Zahir Shah gave an anti-Pakistan speech and in the same year, Pakistani troops claimed that Afghan troops had crossed into Pakistani territory. The Afghan government also denounced the merger of West Pakistan provinces at the cost of Pashtun areas. In 1955, Afghan demonstrators attacked Pakistani embassy and consulates in Kabul, Kandhar and Jalalbad. In response, Pakistan closed the borders and imposed an economic blockade on Afghanistan. Relations got more strained and the national consulates in both countries closed down. By 1970s, the Pashtun movement largely subsided and there was some stability in the bilateral relations. Interestingly, the idea of creating a ‘confederation’ of Afghanistan and Pakistan was also being discussed seriously to tide over the issues created by the Durand Line. Till 1970s, Afghanistan was a progressive and vibrating society with equal rights to women and contemporary education system. The photographs of Afghanistan of 1970s never fail to surprise anyone. This was the time when women and men wore western style dresses and went to schools and universities together. The thriving markets of Kabul were as vibrant as those of Europe. Overall, it was a happy society. However, as a country, Afghanistan was a challenge to Pakistan and with India on the other side, the fear of strategic encirclement from two sides deeply bothered Pakistan. Also, the question of Pashtun nationalism remained a perennial challenge to the chagrin of Pakistan. Hence, Pakistani leadership always saw a stable Afghanistan as a threat to Pakistan.
The invasion of Afghanistan by USSR propelled Pakistan to create Mujahideen with support of US. After a decade as the Soviets withdrew and the US funding ended, the Mujahideen started fighting each other. The ensuing civil war led to huge destruction and chaos in Afghanistan. Beginning in 1994,Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) created the Taliban. ISI assisted the Taliban to establish a regime in Afghanistan which would be favourable to Pakistan. The aim was to gain strategic depth in Afghanistan. This concept essentially meant prevention of encirclement from a hostile India and a USSR-supported Afghanistan. With support of Pakistan, Taliban emerged winner of the Afghan civil war. After the 9/11 attacks, US invaded Afghanistan and Pakistan became the front line state for war against Taliban and Al Qaida. Treacherously, Pakistan again supported Taliban all the way till US was forced to pull out. As expected, Taliban after coming to power started with its efforts to take back the country to Stone Agewith strict religious laws and total curtailment of women’s rights. This is what Pakistan wanted; a regressive Afghanistan, which could not pose any threat to Pakistan. Another reason for Pakistan’s whole hearted support to Taliban in winning the war in Afghanistan was to appease them so that their Pashtun aspirations remained at bay. There were large scale celebrations in Pakistan as Taliban marched into Kabul. Mr Imran Khan said that the Afghans had “broken the shackles of slavery.”However, thousand of Afghans fled the country. Some died while trying to hang on the wheels of transport aircrafts. Perhaps as a part of divine justice, Taliban refused to play second fiddle and things went southwards. Now, the Taliban is not only objecting to the fence constructed by Pakistan on the Durand Line but serious firing duals are also taking place everyday. The offshoot of Taliban, the Tehreek-E-Taliban Pakistan has already acquired the status of an equal entity and is dictating terms to the Pakistani Army in Khaiber Pakhtunkhwa after gaining kinetic edge over the Pakistan army.
The Afghan fans thus attacked Pakistani fans after the cricket match because of their deeper anger against Pakistanis of having ruined their country. They blame Pakistan for making their beloved land a sanctuary for terrorists.
Pakistan’s game plan of using religion in Kashmir is similar to what it did in Afghanistan. It was not happy with a progressive Kashmiri society thus Cinema halls, beauty parlours, cafeterias etc were shut down. Acid attacks were carried out against women to enforce wearing of Burkha. Girls were threatened not to ride two wheelers. Keeping Kashmir a backward and closed society helps Pakistan to keep the problem alive. The terrorists threaten everything that a common Kashmiri likes.....tourism, cinema, women rights, apple trade and above all....happiness. It wants to keep the society primitive so that modern values and education does not make them wiser to understand Pakistan’s treachery.
In Lahore, Karachi or Islamabad, women can wear anything they wish to and watch movies....but in Kashmir they must wear a Burkha and stay at home.
Let us ponder.

Why Pakistan is Uncomfortable with Progress of Kashmir ?

Pakistan’s game plan of using religion in Kashmir is similar to what it did in Afghanistan. It was not happy with a progressive Kashmiri society thus Cinema halls, beauty parlours, cafeterias etc were shut down

September 17, 2022 | Mir Mohsin

“Humne aapka kya bigada hai bhai? Yeh toh ek game hai….itna gussa kyon?” Asked a Pakistani TV anchor after the videos of brawl between Pakistani and Afghan fans post Asia Cup cricket match became viral. Videos show seats of the stadium being thrown by fans on each other and assault on Pakistani fans outside the stadium. One video shows a bespectacled Pakistani fan dancing in a provocative manner clearly trying to make fun of the Afghan fans who were sitting quietly till that time. Other Pakistani fans are seen clapping and cheering for him. This happened just after Pakistani won the nail biting match. The angry reaction by Afghan fans could have been fanned by provocation of the Pakistani fans; but the incident indicates towards a deeper loathing and a sudden manifestation of a profounder acrimony. Going back in time will give us the reasons for the Afghan fury against Pakistanis that is not limited to cricket.

Soon after creation of Pakistan, Afghanistan conveyed its consternation against the Durand Line that unjustly divided Pashtuns. In 1950, Afghan King Mohd Zahir Shah gave an anti-Pakistan speech and in the same year, Pakistani troops claimed that Afghan troops had crossed into Pakistani territory. The Afghan government also denounced the merger of West Pakistan provinces at the cost of Pashtun areas. In 1955, Afghan demonstrators attacked Pakistani embassy and consulates in Kabul, Kandhar and Jalalbad. In response, Pakistan closed the borders and imposed an economic blockade on Afghanistan. Relations got more strained and the national consulates in both countries closed down. By 1970s, the Pashtun movement largely subsided and there was some stability in the bilateral relations. Interestingly, the idea of creating a ‘confederation’ of Afghanistan and Pakistan was also being discussed seriously to tide over the issues created by the Durand Line. Till 1970s, Afghanistan was a progressive and vibrating society with equal rights to women and contemporary education system. The photographs of Afghanistan of 1970s never fail to surprise anyone. This was the time when women and men wore western style dresses and went to schools and universities together. The thriving markets of Kabul were as vibrant as those of Europe. Overall, it was a happy society. However, as a country, Afghanistan was a challenge to Pakistan and with India on the other side, the fear of strategic encirclement from two sides deeply bothered Pakistan. Also, the question of Pashtun nationalism remained a perennial challenge to the chagrin of Pakistan. Hence, Pakistani leadership always saw a stable Afghanistan as a threat to Pakistan.
The invasion of Afghanistan by USSR propelled Pakistan to create Mujahideen with support of US. After a decade as the Soviets withdrew and the US funding ended, the Mujahideen started fighting each other. The ensuing civil war led to huge destruction and chaos in Afghanistan. Beginning in 1994,Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) created the Taliban. ISI assisted the Taliban to establish a regime in Afghanistan which would be favourable to Pakistan. The aim was to gain strategic depth in Afghanistan. This concept essentially meant prevention of encirclement from a hostile India and a USSR-supported Afghanistan. With support of Pakistan, Taliban emerged winner of the Afghan civil war. After the 9/11 attacks, US invaded Afghanistan and Pakistan became the front line state for war against Taliban and Al Qaida. Treacherously, Pakistan again supported Taliban all the way till US was forced to pull out. As expected, Taliban after coming to power started with its efforts to take back the country to Stone Agewith strict religious laws and total curtailment of women’s rights. This is what Pakistan wanted; a regressive Afghanistan, which could not pose any threat to Pakistan. Another reason for Pakistan’s whole hearted support to Taliban in winning the war in Afghanistan was to appease them so that their Pashtun aspirations remained at bay. There were large scale celebrations in Pakistan as Taliban marched into Kabul. Mr Imran Khan said that the Afghans had “broken the shackles of slavery.”However, thousand of Afghans fled the country. Some died while trying to hang on the wheels of transport aircrafts. Perhaps as a part of divine justice, Taliban refused to play second fiddle and things went southwards. Now, the Taliban is not only objecting to the fence constructed by Pakistan on the Durand Line but serious firing duals are also taking place everyday. The offshoot of Taliban, the Tehreek-E-Taliban Pakistan has already acquired the status of an equal entity and is dictating terms to the Pakistani Army in Khaiber Pakhtunkhwa after gaining kinetic edge over the Pakistan army.
The Afghan fans thus attacked Pakistani fans after the cricket match because of their deeper anger against Pakistanis of having ruined their country. They blame Pakistan for making their beloved land a sanctuary for terrorists.
Pakistan’s game plan of using religion in Kashmir is similar to what it did in Afghanistan. It was not happy with a progressive Kashmiri society thus Cinema halls, beauty parlours, cafeterias etc were shut down. Acid attacks were carried out against women to enforce wearing of Burkha. Girls were threatened not to ride two wheelers. Keeping Kashmir a backward and closed society helps Pakistan to keep the problem alive. The terrorists threaten everything that a common Kashmiri likes.....tourism, cinema, women rights, apple trade and above all....happiness. It wants to keep the society primitive so that modern values and education does not make them wiser to understand Pakistan’s treachery.
In Lahore, Karachi or Islamabad, women can wear anything they wish to and watch movies....but in Kashmir they must wear a Burkha and stay at home.
Let us ponder.


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