CHAPTER 2AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN

Great Decisions

British India

IndiaPakistan Bangladesh

British India

1. Tried to take over Afghanistan but couldn’t 2. Used it as a buffer zone ( against Russia )3. British established a 3 tiered Border

1. First line : areas under direct British rule from areas under Pashtun tribal Control --- Today the lnie that separates the NWFP ( North Western Frontier Province ) and Balochistan from the FATA ( Federally Administered Tribal Areas )

2. Durand Line : separating the Tribal areas from the areas under the control of the Afghani emir ( accepted by international community)

Pashtunistan

A group concentrated in Afghanistan, NWFP, and FATA

The Durand Line cut through the Pashtun Tribal Area

The Weakening of British India

Afghanistan’s full sovereignty 1919India’s independence in 1947Pakistan was a new stateAfghanistan claimed that all treaties or borders

with British India had lapsed because now Pakistan is a state on its own

Afghanistan refused to recognize the Durand Line and called for the self determination of Pashtunistan

The Duran line is the Western International border of Pakistan

Afghanistan

The dynasty fell in 1973The king was overthrown by his cousin, Daud

– who was murdered by Communist military officers in 1978

This led to the US, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia supporting the mujahidin against the Soviets

After the fall of the Soviets – ethnic conflicts amongst tribes increased

Pakistan supported the rise to power – Taliban

The resistance organized the Northern Alliance – opposed the Taliban They control the norther and western afghanistan and

the capital Kabul

THE US ATTACKTHE UN BONN AGREEMENT

The Bush administration wanted to destroy al Qaeda’s bases in Afghanistan

The U.S asked the UN to take charge to sponsor political transition in Afghanistan

Afghanistan had not had a govt. since 1979

Interim authority for 6 months Must choose and ELJ

(emergency Loya Jirga ) or an emergency grand council to choose the next govt.

Then created a CLJ or a constitution

Then fair elections Hamid Karzai was elected

president

September 11, 2001

G-8

G-8 Members were appointed different sectors to reform

Germany – policeJapan – demobilization, disarmamentBritain – CounternarcoticsItaly – JusticeU.S- limited involvement in Afghan National

Army

Insurgency escalated

2006 – Taliban launched major offenses 2007 – 2008 – attacks continued to riseTaliban gained a lot of support – controlled

more than 50 districts out of 365 and government controlled 62 out of 365

Pakistan

Uses the wars in the region to stabilize itselfWanted to bring Afghanistan under its

influence by supporting Pashtun Islamists Supported the US in ending the Taliban

movement in Afghanistan and searching for Al Qaeda – because otherwise the US would ally with India However this wasn’t true the taliban was still very

much supported in Pakistan President Bush found out and confronted Prez.

Musharaf with it

Al - Qaeda

Located in the FATA region ( Federally administered Tribal Areas) of pakistan on the afghan border

Afghan Taliban

Mullah Mohamed Umar- leader or amir of the Taliban

He leads the Quetta Shura (directs operations in Southern Afghanistan)

Jalaludin Haqqani – another center of Afghan Taliban Collaborate more closely with Al-Qaeda Responsible for military activity in Eastern

Afghanistan and KabulIslamic party – Mujahidin group – NE

afghanistan and NW Pakistan

US

•Unreliable ally•Preferred to ally with India

•Believe that US should accept TalibanInd

ia

•Threat for Pakistan

Afghanistan

•Eliminate indian influence

•Supporting Taliban to ensure that Afghanistan is no threat

IN Pakistan’s View:

The US failed to engae the TalibanThe US has done a poor job in stabilizing

AfghanistanThey signed a nuclear treaty with India

( pakistan’s threat)Pakistan will only deliver Al-Qaeda if the US

engages Taliban and includes them in the govt of Afghanistan

Policy considerations (afghanistan)

Strengthen government legitimacy Differentiating between the Taliban and Al-Qaeda International army will only remain to secure the area

Improvements in security ANA, ANP – Afghan National Army, and Afghan

National policeControlling Drugs – Crop eradication

Policy Considerations : Pakistan

More of a threat towards international community

International community should work together to eliminate the threats This effort should work more with Pakistan Highlighting how important it is that Pakistan is

stable Frank discussion

Durand Line Issue