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In early March 2007 NATO and Afghan forces launched their largest combined offensive yet into the mountains of southern Afghanistan where hundreds of hardcore Taliban insurgents held sway. The military action was comprised of 4,500 NATO and 1,000 Afghan troops. NATO hoped to establish security among a population now harboring Taliban insurgents, foreign fighters and drug traffickers, and rid the region of its shadow Taliban government, according to the ISAF officials. That would allow President Hamid Karzai's administration to make its first move into a lawless region overflowing with the poppies that fund the Taliban insurgency. NATO estimated that there were hundreds of hardcore insurgents in the area, as well as hundreds -- or perhaps thousands -- of foot soldiers hired to fight for the group. Reportedly NATO’s operation was supposed aimed at winning over a population long supportive of Islamic extremists was working closely with the government to prevent civilian casualties, which have dogged military operations here and caused an outcry by Karzai and other Afghans. Up to 20 civilian deaths in three incidents could be attributed to U.S. or NATO military action, Afghan officials and witnesses said.
The Afghan Government had little control over many parts of northern Helmand, and the British troops stationed there battled almost daily with insurgents. U.S. intelligence officials reported that Taliban fighters have flooded into the province in the late 2006 and early 2007, and there were now more fighters there than anywhere else in Afghanistan. Maj. Gen. Ton van Loon, NATO's southern commander, said : "We cannot allow extremists, criminals and Taliban to decide what happens in this country …We need to make sure the government of Afghanistan with our support ... secures the area." Meanwhile, NATO had reaffirmed its commitment to expand in Afghanistan, despite the increased insurgency. NATO is committed to Afghanistan and its future. It was widely believed that NATO is in Afghanistan for the long term.
What is Pakistan’s Role in Afghanistan?
Pakistan, which once upon a time had supported the Taliban regime militarily and financially, made a drastic policy change after 9/11 and cooperated with the United States in going after Osama bin Laden and the Taliban. Despite this, Pakistan, led by General Musharraf, still tried to influence the future stability of the Afghan government by supporting the political process in Afghanistan. Some have suggested that Pakistan should do more to defeat the Taliban and Al Qaeda extremists operating in Afghanistan and along the Pak-Afghan border. Meanwhile, the United States, Afghanistan, and the coalition often blame Pakistan for not doing enough in the Global War on Terror.
The Government of Pakistan had pleaded that it was already taking difficult steps to combat terrorism and for the first in recent history we have sent regular troops to the tribal area. Pakistan was taking these steps because it believed that having peace in Afghanistan was in its own interest. Moreover, the 2,500-kilometre Pakistan-Afghan border was difficult to monitor and control because of the rough terrain. Peace in Afghanistan could also pave the way for the return of Afghan refugees. Those among the Taliban who were willing to be included in the mainstream should be given the chance to surrender their arms and join the political process. The military action should only be taken against those who refuse to accept a peaceful solution to the Afghan crisis. Instead of accusing each other and raising baseless allegations, both the governments of Pakistan and Afghanistan should join hands against their common enemy of terrorism and extremism. They should avoid the blame game. Pakistan continued its support for peace and reconstruction in Afghanistan to maintain regional stability. Pakistan wanted to strengthen economic and trade ties with Afghanistan. The Government of Pakistan was convinced that the destinies of the two countries were intertwined. The two countries have a deep rooted relationship based on shared history, culture, common faith and economic interdependence. Pakistan wanted a strong, stable, progressive and prosperous Afghanistan because it was in the interests of both Pakistan and Afghanistan. Pakistan had even welcomed Afghanistan’s membership to the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). Pakistan had provided consistent support to Afghanistan in its reconstruction efforts to achieve peace, stability and prosperity. Pakistan was located at the confluence of three important regions of the world – South Asia, Central Asia and China – and provided the shortest access to the sea for all landlocked countries of Central Asia including Afghanistan. Pakistan’s geo-strategic location had revitalized the country’s role in the promotion of multi-sector and inter-regional cooperation, which was the basis for peace and prosperity in the region. Earlier, Pakistan had hosted millions of Afghan refugees during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, of which two million were still living in Pakistan. The Government of Pakistan has maintained friendly relations with the Karzai government in Afghanistan, and provided diplomatic, political and financial support to it. Trade between the two countries has been increasing and it was now more than $1.2 billion and over 60,000 Pakistanis were working in Afghanistan. In the future the gas pipeline networks between Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan and other countries of the region would provide a chance to further promote friendly relations.
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Sohail Mahmood
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