Pakistan-US Agreement on Counterterrorism Cooperation

The fourth session of the Pakistan-US Working Group on Counterterrorism was held in Islamabad on 5 July. The Pakistani delegation was led by Interior Minister Rehman Malik while William Brownfield, US assistant secretary of state for international law enforcement and narcotics affairs, led the US delegation. At the session, Pakistan and the United States agreed on the need for joint efforts to continue strategic talks, to resolve visa problems, and to curb drug trafficking. Moreover, complying with the US demand, Pakistan banned the export of nitrate, which is used in preparing landmines, to Afghanistan. However, the United States assured to enhance Pakistani security agencies' capability.
Addressing the joint news conference at the conclusion of the talks, Interior Minister Rehman Malik welcomed the resumption of talks between Pakistan and the United States. On this occasion, William Brownfield assured to support Pakistani Government's efforts against terrorism. The meeting decided to form a joint task force to eliminate the explosive devices.
Curbing Narcotics Trafficking
The agreement between Pakistan and the United States on strategy and steps against terrorism indicates that, despite the differences on several issues, some dialogue between the two countries is going on, which is a welcome development in the sense that it will not only help resolve these issues but will also help improve relations between the two countries. Narcotics trafficking is a major issue of this region as well as of the rest of the world. The Pakistan-US agreement on curbing narcotics trafficking is an encouraging development. The need of the hour is that the rest of the world too played its due role in this regard so that the longstanding dream of forming a drugs free global society could be materialized.
The ban on export of nitrate, which is used in preparing landmines, to Afghanistan, is a welcome step. The use of landmines in wars dates back to a long time ago. The use of the landmines in the prevailing situation in Afghanistan can bear devastating results. However, the United States should gain an assurance from the Karzai government that the terrorists would not be able to obtain the chemical, used in preparing landmines, from somewhere else.
Common Interest
During his unannounced visit of Afghanistan, UK Prime Minister David Cameron has said that Pakistan's and Afghanistan's working jointly is in the interest of both the countries. However, President Hamid Karzai is unable to understand that. In his meeting with President Asif Ali Zardari, he expressed grave concern over the alleged shelling in Afghanistan from the Pakistani areas. It is pertinent to mention here that, a few days ago, several hundred Afghan terrorists invaded Pakistani area and reaction was shown from this side of the border.
Speaking in this connection, Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said that the intervention and supply of weapons in Pakistan from Afghanistan needs to be stopped. He added that our borders have been violated five times from the Afghanistan side.
Eliminating Terrorism
David Petraeus, commander of the US and NATO forces in Afghanistan, has said that the foreign forces will focus attention on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in the coming months. It is imperative that the NATO forces not only stopped violations of the Durand Line but also enforced measures to prevent the terrorists from infiltrating into Pakistan from Afghanistan.
The United States can give a new dimension to the cooperation against terrorism by showing progress on these matters. That will also pave way for normalizing the relations between Pakistan and the United States once again.

Afghan Problem Lies in Jirga

Reconciliation is an established way and tradition in the collective Islamic and Afghan life. In the whole Afghan history, whenever differences appeared between different tribes, the heads of tribes and elders, who were honored by people due to their services, got together; called Jirga and endeavored to find solutions to the problems.

New Communist System

The supporters of the new communist system after the Soviet attack on Afghanistan, and similarly the leaders of Pakistani jihadist organizations dishonored this Islamic and Pashtuns-based sacred tradition of our collective life. Leader having roots in common people were either martyred or forced to migrate.
As a result of this cruelty, the foundation of Jirga was weakened in the country. People lost trust in the laws made by the government. Trust deficit and insecurity engendered among people. Government officials were unable to solve people's problems and maintain peace by enforcing laws.

Basic Human Rights

Our people have been burning in the flames of fire for the last 30 long years. The whole world can see with wide open eyes that the miseries of Afghan people have increased manifold and innocent Afghans have been sacrificed contrary to their basic human rights.
The first hard time for Afghanistan was the Soviet aggression in 1979 which was the culmination of all those communist interventions against the countries around the world. The Russians and their supporters tried to introduce a new communism-based system and structure against the Islamic and Afghan culture of Afghanistan.
They wanted to shape a new human being and a new Afghan who would work for the communists. Not only the plans and conspiracies of the communists failed in Afghanistan due to the sacrifices of Afghan Muslim mujahidin but the whole communist system and its political structure and sovereignty inside Russia was shattered into pieces by the sacred blood of the Afghan Muslim mujahidin.

Changing Afghan and Pashtun Culture

When jihad in Afghanistan got victory, Pakistan brought into the political field of Afghanistan those jihadist organizations which had been organized by Pakistan for achieving its political and strategic goals. The heads of these jihadist organizations, who were trapped and who had been sold out, were incited to be move ahead in order to be stake holders in Afghanistan and establish such government that may entertain the political and strategic interests of Pakistan. Pakistan wanted to change Afghan and Pashtun culture into Punjabi and Pakistani culture and tradition.
In fact, the goal of the Pakistani groups was to make Afghanistan a pet state and find a solution to Kashmir issue with the blood of the Afghans. Pakistan-tailored groups could neither establish peace, reconciliation and security in Afghanistan nor could they present a national leader before the Afghans. Thus differences appeared among these groups on the basis of share in the government.

Supporting Afghan Jihad

Right from the day of its inception, Pakistan has never wanted that a sovereign government having mandate of the oppressed Afghans be established in Afghanistan. Pashtuns living on eastern part of the false, illegal and the so-called Durand Line, do not accept the Pakistani system and they build their lives according to their Pashtun standards and wishes. They solve their problems by Jirga instead of bowing their heads before the Pakistani authorities.
On the one hand, Pakistan wants to beat Pashtuns with the might of the US and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) troops, and wants to break the nation wide resistance, while on the other hand, it sends its troops to its tribal areas, kills the tribal elders, religious clerics, and in return gets money, weapons and sophisticated technology from the US. Pakistani people detest this twofold policy of the rulers which is why they express their anger for the government by supporting the Afghan jihad openly and secretly.

Pashtuns Code of Conduct

The Americans attacked Afghanistan for taking revenge for the 9/11 attacks. It empowered the gunmen and warlords against the will of Afghan people. They tried to finish terrorism, establish democracy, and work for reconstruction with the support of these warlords. Just like the Russians, they appointed those Afghans on key posts in Afghanistan who had grown up in the US, who could not talk in their own national languages, and who were unaware of the Afghan culture and code of conduct.
The Americans expected them to spread in and impose American culture on the Afghan people. They also tried that the new human being and the new Afghan should be in accordance with the American culture and standard. They failed to achieve their targets because they were unable to understand the problems of the Afghan people. They could not make a way into their hearts and minds. Reaching these goals and achieving these targets can only be possible through the Afghan Jirga. Troops surge and sophisticated weapons can only broadens the Afghan problems and it increases the uprising and national resistance. No matter how much the Afghan casualties increase and the blood of innocent Muslims is shed, the extent of enmity and rivalry increases and the sentiments of revenge strengthen to the same extent, just in accordance with the Pashtuns Code of Conduct. If the Americans call for reconciliation with complete sincerity, sit with the Afghan elders whose hands are not stained with blood of anyone and who did not dishonor anyone, and make a way towards the fighters, and get ready to solve problems through Jirga and beg pardon, only then it is possible that the war my be stopped and a way to reconciliation may be found out.