Pakistani analysts urge Pakistan and Afghanistan to end blame game

By IRNA,

Islamabad : Pakistani analysts have urged Pakistan and Afghanistan to end blame game as their tension is a destabilizing factor for the region.


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Talking to IRNA, two prominent analysts said that any misunderstanding between the two countries would have negative impact on the future of both nations.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai while speaking at a joint press conference with British Prime Minster on Friday in Kabul again alleged that militants are still intruding into Afghanistan from Pakistani tribal area.

Pakistan shares a long and porous border with Afghanistan (also called the Durand Line).

The border is poorly marked. The problem is exacerbated by cultural, historical, linguistic, ethnic and political ties crossing close relations between peoples who live on both sides of the border.

Dr. Rashid Ahmad Khan, senior research fellow at Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI), said that on diplomatic front Pak-Afghan relations are cordial as Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari invited Afghan President on his oath taking ceremony which was a goodwill gesture.

He added that as far as the border situation is concerned things are quite different and Afghanistan has always said that Pakistan has not been able to stop the intrusion of militants from its tribal area.

Dr. Rashid opined that the finical activities and trade between the two countries have considerably expanded in the recent years.

“There are dark shadows on the relations of both the countries and it is very difficult to predict the future of Pak-Afghan relations”, said Rashid.

Following the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, the Pakistani Government played a vital role in supporting the Afghan resistance movement and assisting Afghan refugees.

Pakistan absorbed an estimated 5 million refugees and provided shelter, education, food rations and assistance to them. Social and health indicators dropped considerably during this period as Polio and Tuberculosis, previously eradicated from the country, were re-introduced and the country became awash with drugs, weapons and increased incidence of crime, poverty and violence.

At various times, Pakistan has backed the mujahideen against the Soviets and the Taliban against the Northern Alliance which was supported by India and USA as it was the hard opponents of Pakistan.

Since Pakistan announced its support for the US-led coalition against terrorism, it has been facing an increase in terrorist activities within its own territory.

Pakistan’s former Secretary General of Foreign Affairs and former Ambassador M. Akram Zaki said that Pakistan wants strong friendly relations with Afghanistan .

He said that Pakistan government wants to tackle the problem of terrorism with the cooperation of Afghanistan . He added that stability and peace in the region is in the interest of both the countries.

The overthrow of the Taliban Regime in November 2001 has seen somewhat strained relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The present Karzai administration in Kabul feels that the remnants of the former Taliban government are being supported by factions within Pakistan, but he was always reluctant to provide evidence to the world communities.

Far years both the American media and the Afghan government have preferred to put the blame on Pakistan for its inability to plug the undesired cross border movements.

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