India is Poised to attack Pakistan on our Western Borders
By A Khokar • Mar 7th, 2009 • Category: Politics • 18 Comments
On 22nd Jan 2009, INDIA handed over to Afghan authorities ZARANJ - DELARAM highway built by it in the face of stiff resistance from Taliban, vowing that the collaboration between the two countries in the field of development will not stop.
There are approximately 3,000-4,000 Indian nationals working on several reconstruction projects across Afghanistan along with some eleven branches of Indian consulates spread through out Afghanistan. The principal projects include, among others:
- Construction of a 220 KV Double Circuit Transmission Line from Pul-e-Khumri to Kabul and a 220/110/20 KV sub-station at Kabul under the North-East Power System project to bring power from neighbouring countries to Kabul (USD 111 million);
- Humanitarian food assistance of one million tons of wheat in the form of high protein biscuits distributed to 1.4 million schoolchildren every day under the School Feeding Programme, administered through the World Food Programme (USD 100 million);
- Construction of a 218 kilometre road from Zaranj to Delaram to facilitate movement of goods and commodities from Afghanistan to Iranian border (USD 175 million – approval for an additional USD 91 million is being sought);
- Reconstruction and completion of Salma Dam Power Project (42 MW) in Herat province (USD 116 million – approval for additional USD 36 million is being sought);
- Construction of Afghan Parliament (USD 83 million);
- Reconstruction of Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health in Kabul in various phases, including reconstruction of surgical ward/polyclinic/diagnostic centre (USD 6.7 million);
- Reconstruction of Habibia School (USD 5.1 million);
- Digging of 26 tube wells in North West Afghanistan (USD 1.2 million);
- Gifting of vehicles (400 buses, 200 mini-buses, 105 municipality and 285 army vehicles) (USD 25 million);
- Setting up of 5 toilet-cum-public sanitation complexes in Kabul (USD 0.9 million);
- Telephone exchanges in 11 provinces connecting to Kabul (USD 11.1 million);
- Expansion of National TV network by providing an uplink from Kabul and downlinks in all 34 provincial capitals, contributing towards greater integration of the country (USD 6.8 million).
The present level of India’s assistance to Afghanistan is USD 750 million, making it the 5th largest bilateral donor after the US, UK, Japan and Germany. According to the Indian Embassy at Kabul, of the total pledge of USD 750 million between 2002 and 2009, the fully committed amount is USD 758.21 million and cumulative disbursement up to 2006-07 has been US $ 278.94 million.
This ambitious project (Zaranj – Delaram), funded and executed by India, will provide Afghanistan a shorter route to the sea, via the Iranian port of Chabahar, than is currently available through Pakistan. Iran, India and Afghanistan had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in January 2003, to improve Afghanistan’s access to the coast.
Under this agreement, Iran is building a new transit route to connect Milak in the southeast of the country to Zaranj in Afghanistan, and has already completed an important bridge over the Helmand River.
On its part, India has completed building the new road connecting Zaranj to Delaram, which is on the main Herat-Kandahar road.
These projects will shorten the transit distance between Chabahar and Delaram by over 600 kilometres. According to the MoU, Afghan goods will have duty-free access to the Iranian port and the trade from Afghanistan will have to pay no more than what is applied to Iranian traders for using Iranian territory for transit purposes.
India is to enjoy similar benefits as Afghanistan at Chabahar port and for transit. Furthermore, India and Iran have also agreed to build a railroad from Chabahar to the Iranian Central Railway Station, thus creating a link to the Karachi-Tehran Railway line, which goes further westwards.
While Afghanistan gains superior access to realize its trade potential, India will be able to prevail over checks posed by Pakistan in refusing to allow the transit of Indian goods en route to Afghanistan. Furthermore, India would be able to obtain quicker access (of GAS / HYDROCARBONS) to Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Ukraine.
The Zaranj-Delaram project, consequently, has direct ramifications for the three participating countries, and impacts on Pakistan by default. Afghanistan, the host country that is still a long way away from recovery, continues to be a playground for competing foreign policy agendas and the ‘new great game’ that is evidently being played out on its soil.
The Taliban detests India’s proximity with the Hamid Karzai regime and leaders of the erstwhile Northern Alliance. The Taliban/Al Qaeda combine and the trans-national jihadi groups have consequently and continuously targeted Indian nationals and interests since India began reconstruction operations in Afghanistan, particularly in southern Afghanistan and in the Herat area bordering Iran.
Reconstruction efforts and the unfortunate consequence of violence play out amidst the reality of the limited control exercised by the Hamid Karzai Government over southern and eastern Afghanistan. The Taliban, Al Qaeda and an assortment of tribal elders and warlords, have de facto control over this region, and some of these entities either operate from their safe sanctuaries along Pak-Afghan border.
US-NATO forces as well as India would like to portray that the dangers of anarchy across wide areas along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border go well beyond the confines of the region, and be seen to be sourced in Pakistan to a far greater extent than in the debilitated state of Afghanistan. The Mumbai attack followed by declaration of LeT as Terrorist by UN Security Council and now the Lahore attack (where foreigners were made targets) are all such orchestration to build a positive case against Pakistan to cripple and declare it as the epicentre of Terrorism.[1]
Despite the steadily worsening situation in Afghanistan and the direct attacks against Indian projects and workers, there is no indication that India intends to dilute its presence or commitment to projects in Afghanistan. Indeed, there are strong efforts to further consolidate India-Afghanistan relations beyond the present commitment, which is primarily related to reconstruction and development efforts.
There is, for instance, a proposal for the Indian Army to train the Afghan National Army in counter-insurgency operations. There is also a plan to send some 15000 strong Indian combat troops in near future. While India would remain “actively engaged” in the reconstruction exercise in Afghanistan in the foreseeable future and carry out the subversive activities inside Pakistan, the next step of military cooperation would unambiguously threaten Pakistan’s attempts to secure dominance and recover strategic depth in Afghanistan.
Though Pakistan is currently wracked by multiple internal convulsions that have, in some measure, undermined its capacities of power projection into Afghanistan, it remains the case that it shares strategic goals with the Taliban in this theatre.
India’s deepening co-operation with Afghanistan may hamper Pakistan’s prospective strategies envisage an augmented share of power for the Taliban at Kabul, in the proximate future, and a return to the status quo ante of a Taliban regime, in the medium term. India endeavour would be that a pro Indian strong regime at Kabul is constituted which would immediately put the Durand Line between Pakistan and Afghanistan into question, and further destabilize North Baluchistan and the North West Frontier Province (NWFP). But Pakistan’s assistance to the Taliban in Afghanistan, and its efforts to recover ‘strategic depth’ in that country through this proxy, will inevitably continue, though its scale may be calibrated to ensure that it does not provoke US ire and reprisals.
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[1] where as our politician are busy wrestling for power and show of their street power; our enemies finding it a ripe time are all out to snatch away even our land from under our feet.(Hum hain keh Jotioun main daal bant rahey hain)
Source: Adab-Arz.co.uk
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once US troops leave, Karzai will disappear, and all the indians left at the mercy of ISI backed taliban will evaporate, once the bloody indians leave Afghanistan the support for Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan will collaspe
pak just has to wait
what remains to be seen is who will outlast the other Pakistan or the US troops as US troops are protecting the bloody indians
nothing wrong with reconstruction in Afghanistan
but the bloody indians with karzai (who took refuge in pak for a loong time and now the snake is busy in giving anti pak statements) any way both are trying to make pak look bad
i would like to see afghanistan develop but not at the cost of hostile/anti-pak govenment in Kabul
What has pakistan give to Afghanistan till date? Nothhing but terrorism from your brother in arms, Taliban. Why should Afghanistan help Pakistan? Pakis are brain dead zombies. Why do you peple always think of destruction rather than constructive?
Kya pakistan mein koi kaam nahin bacha hai? Tum jaise paki sadak chhap bhi aaj kal internet pe blogging karne lage hain.
Premi
pak has nothing to give …………..when there was no government in Afghanistan refugees were pouring in who gave them shelter? i suppose it wasnt india
it is because of these refugees the local industry is suffring , because these refugees are involved in
smuggling, supporting millions of refugees is a strain on our already weak economy
we pakistanis could have kicked them out, but we didnt
we can still make them suffer by boycotting their shops, but we didnt!
we pakistanis can teach karzai a lesson by closing the border, cutting off their supplies, but we didnt!
as this would only add to the sufferings of a common afghan
like always we Pakistanis are being blamed for not doing enough, what else do you bloody indians want?do you want us to surrender pakistan to the Afghanistan?
BUT
what are you indians doing?… you indian will not be in afghanistan forever, ultimately its the two (Pak and Afghanistan) neighbours that will have to move forward, you are not helping them by poisning their brains against pakistan
anyway its wrong to blame pak for afghanistan troubles, pak needs some sort of stable govnt in Afghanistan for its own well being
now you indians are busy creating trouble for pak, you indians will realize this mistake when you will have a unstable neighbour,
i couldnt help notice India was sweating and very concerned during the recent Bangali Mutiny, it(indian concerns) was only natural
VCI : “when there was no government in Afghanistan refugees were pouring in who gave them shelter?” - IT WAS A BIG MISTAKE! - LETTING THEM ROAM AROUND ALL OVER OUR COUNTRY WAS EVEN BIGGER MISTAKE ! !
VCI: “it is because of these refugees the local industry is suffring , because these refugees are involved in smuggling, supporting millions of refugees is a strain on our already weak economy” - TOUGH LUCK! SMARTER LEADERSHIP AND PEOPLE WOULD HAVE CHANGE THIS SITUATION LONG TIME AGO!
VCI: “we pakistanis could have kicked them out, but we didnt” - WHY NOT? HOW COULD WE BE SO OBLIVIOUS TO THIS ULTIMATE DANGER THAT WE FACE NOW, WHY?
VCI: “we can still make them suffer by boycotting their shops, but we didnt!” - HARDLY ANY REASON TO BOAST ABOUT!
VCI: “we pakistanis can teach karzai a lesson by closing the border, cutting off their supplies, but we didnt! as this would only add to the sufferings of a common afghan” WE SHOULD HAVE DONE SO. COMMON AFGHAN CAN GO TO HELL! LETS FIRST TAKE CARE OF OUR COMMON PAKISTANIS’ HARDSHIPS AND SUFFERINGS!
Aftab S. Alam
read the first line of comment # 4 “pak has nothing to give” so obviously i am not boasting, just giving the complete picture
it also says”you indians will realize this mistake when you will have a unstable neighbour, ”
also refer to comment # 2 it says “i would like to see afghanistan develop but not at the cost of hostile/anti-pak govenment in Kabul”
in a sense you are right about our leadership but there are more things , more than just personal gains in everything
Sri Lanka Cricket Team came to pak despite apprehensions, it wasnt because they were cricket starved, it wanst because they did not care about their cricketers, it was because Pak and Ind supported SL in 1996 when teams were boycotting SL,
so it was more than just personal, material or national gains……….it was friendship…that may have made SL visit pak
Now SL came to pak to help restore confidence in PAK security what happens??????????
yes you guessed it right! Our Incompetent leaders manage to screw it up big time!
being a pakistani I can understand your feelings about pak’s current plight…….
i hope you understand what i am saying
VCI, of course, I do appreciate and understand your feelings; no one in his / her right mind should ever question anyone’s sense of patriotism, I for one never do. It only disturbs me to notice over supply of hatred within our ranks, we will always find and do someone responsible for our failings. Why is it that we just hate doing a bit of introspection before blaming others for our faults. A case in point will be right here for example. We failed to protect our ‘friends’ and ‘guests’, as far as I am concerned IT IS OUR FAILURE, where as I find ourselves blaming everyone else and his dog. Look when there is a ’security lapse’ it reflects on the poor training, preparation, sense of duty of the security agengies (the people actually on the payroll of these agencies) - how come we all tend to hold responsible the president and the governor, I fail to understand. But, of course, please do not let me disturb yourself by this, you may do what you like.
Premji and friends,
The name ‘Premji’ as one may understand is a title given to some one; a person who is ‘karam chari’ of love and affections and strives for the betterment in the society. A man, who against all the odds spreads love and peace. At the face of it ‘prem’ means loving and affectionate and ‘Ji’ can not be adopted by some one at its own but it is a title given by the people among whom one lives—- as a respect. NO Mr prem may call himself as ‘Premji’at his own.
Contrary to the general understanding that one derives out of the name of ‘premji’; the use of words like ‘Sarak Chaap’ by this fake stooge is most disgusting. So first and foremost is that Mr Prem is a fake person; a savage who is moving around in a sheep clothing.
It is generally observed that most of our Indian friends appearing here on this forum; availing the freedom of speech that this forum extends out of respects and the human rights of participants to express themselves freely; invariably they go down the road of slandering and they love slinging of mud and filth. Hurling of abuses is some how a favourite execise. It certainly reflects the society that they belong but strange enough; at the same time they also claim to be the educated lot.
Mr Prem; who so ever you are? You are please requested to refrain from using abusive language and name calling. Here we are discussing the current affairs and we must not deviate from the bounds of the given subject. We must come up only with the best comments and wishes to solve the problems and try to unearth the truth so that our societies may turn toward their betterment; peace and harmony.
Other wise please be mind full that in Pakistan people also drink the same water gushing out of those towering Himalaya but probably in much purer form than, what is available in India— because beyond Pakistani borders it becomes more polluted.
Regards
Dear Friends,
There is no doubt that Lahore attack was the repeat of drama orchestrated by the same savage stooges who staged it in Mumbai. When the required results could not be achieved in Mumbai yet another futile effort is made here in Lahore. It is repeating of ill aimed prescription.—- A foolish effort that it exposes the evil design so glaringly.
Any how; when Sri Lankan they know the crux of matter; Pakistan is not bother about any thing else.
.If the aim of these stooges is spreading of anarchy and chaos in Pakistan; then they could have attacked the gathering and procession being widely and openly held now a days through out Punjab. People in millions are participating there. But here Sir Lankan team was made as target; to make it international news. It is yet another effort to Malign Pakistan but a futile effort to push Pakistan yet one more step toward declaring it a den of terrorist.
But:
The scavengers; they may see every moving cow a dead carcass but probably their wish may not come to pass?
Save your country from the scavengers like Taliban, and Military they are ready to take over again and the democracy is about end in case they take over.
Save your life first and your last para in the article says it all. Taliban power share in Afghan, why to go to Afghanistan for that, in that case hand over the power to Taliban in Pakistan it self.
Sajjad, I stand by my position and more than willing to repeat and ask for supporting my demand -
They all must go!
Now about your surprise. Sajjad, you wrote,” it is the leaders who are the administatrors they are responsible…” This is what is totally wrong and I am against it. The set up is not designed or meant for personal loyalties; it’s the manipulation of the system, these gangsters have made the civil servants totally subservient to their whims and tanturms. The police department or the municipal services, postal or communication system should be and was totally independent of who and which party was in power.
Good that you gave this example of Shahbaz Sharif’s dismissal and various departments and contractors abandoning their administrative and contractual obligation. You said it! Where does the fault lie? If contractors and administrators are sucked into party politics and stop functioning, how do you justify blaming a president or a governor for this. I am sorry if I appear to be defending any of these jokers, I am not because I consider them all parasites, the self-serving dwarfs, the mafioso. This is the reason that I so sincerely wish that in these ‘gang wars’ one they liquidate as many of the gangsters they can, so that the nation has it bit easier to take care of the rest. This might have explained m joy of seeing someone “kicked out”. O’ how I wish to witness them all being ‘kicked around’ all over the country.
When we discuss our leaders and the nation they lead (because in our democratic way we elect them our selves); please be mind full of the verdict of God Almighty on the subject.
Al-Baqarah[2:143] “And thus have We made you an exalted nation, that you may be guardians over men, and the Messenger of God may be a guardian over you”.
[2:143] اور اسی طرح ہم نے تمہیں وسطی اُمت بنادیا تاکہ تم لوگوں پر نگران ہو جاؤ اور رسول تم پر نگران ہو جائ
Al-Anbiya’ [21:73] “And We made them leaders who guided people by Our command, and We sent revelation to them enjoining the doing of good works, and the observing of Prayer, and the giving of alms. And they were worshippers of Us alone.”
[21:73] اور ہم نے انہیں ایسے امام بنایا جو ہمارے حکم سے ہدایت دیتے تھے اور ہم انہیں اچھی باتیں کرنے اور نماز قائم کرنے اور زکوٰۃ دینے کی وحی کرتے تھے۔ اور وہ ہماری عبادت کرنے والے تھے۔
Al-Nisa’[4:47] “O ye People of the Book! believe in what We have sent down, fulfilling that which is with you, before We destroy some of the leaders and turn them on their backs or curse them as We cursed the People of the Sabbath. And the decree of Allah is bound to be carried out.”
[4:48] اے وہ لوگو جو کتاب دیئے گئے ہو! اس پر ایمان لے آؤ جو ہم نے اتارا ہے تصدیق کرتا ہوا اس کی جو تمہارے پاس ہے۔ پیشتر اس کے کہ ہم بعض چہروں کو داغ دیں اور انہیں ان کی پیٹھوں کے بل لوٹا دیں یا ان پر اسی طرح لعنت ڈالیں جس طرح ہم نے سبت والوں پر لعنت ڈالی تھی۔ اور اللہ کا فیصلہ تو پورا ہوکر رہنے والا ہے۔
Regards
#13
Last verse: reference is [4:47]
Regards
Khokar,
Stop quoting Quran verses in your comments.
If you have something to write please do that, rather than quoting verses.
Why do you have to bring religion in each and every discussion. Religion are big, very big and should be talked about on every occasion that you find.
You are not respecting it here and lowering level of it by bring it in every discussion.
Adi,
Our Lives ought to be governed by our respective religions in all the spheres of our life. I do not suppose that we can get away with it, by leading our lives in defiance or say living in ignorance.
Take the religion out of politics; what all is left is mere haughtiness and oppression.
[Nikal jaey deen siasat sey; tour reh jatee hey Changazi]
@ VCI,
My statement of Sadak Chhaap……… and it boiled your blood.
Lagta hai maine aap ki dukhti rag pe haanth rakh diya tha.
Dear Brothers,
It was great to see the discussion being moderated and I should specially thank Aftab for that. Forget about a few who take delight out of abusing others, let us as human beings of the world discuss constructively and with positive mind frame on the well being of the world as a whole and our region in particular.
Thanks Aftab, for controlling the emotional out bursts. Have a feeling that you are staying outside Pakistan and that is the reason you can appreciate the situation better and see the bigger picture.
There are a few points I would like to make as a fellow human being and definitely as a brother.
1. The conspiracy theories have destroyed communist Soviet Union as it mostly overlooked its weaknesses and then imploded. The same is happening with Pakistan, where for anything untoward happening they have blamed US, Israel and India (an generally the west). Blaming does not solve the problem my brother. Just like blaming the weather for my illness will not cure it. It is Pakistan’s duty to cure what is happening inside Pakistan
2. Islam is another religion which has followers in paractically all countries. They all have to follow the rules of the country they stay. They have to use the governance structure and policies in that country to etch out their living. Pakistan should not behave as the big brother of all muslims in the world. Pakistan has been too much vociferous for anything and everything in the name of Islam, which no other Islamic nation has done with so much of consistency.
3. Pakistan should follow the rules of the nations and not create, train and nurture millitant groups to export terror in the name of Islam, Palestine, Kashmir, Chechnya, etc. This is meddling with other countries. It is getting into bad books of every one as this is one thing which is unaccountable (unofficial) so control is difficult. There are methods the nations follow, which can be adopted. Even for kashmir, the bilateral dialogues yeilded better results than sponsoring millitancies. That is why now every country is wary of Pakistan
4. Pakistan should like China, India, Malayasia, Vietnam, etc give more priority to trade and business so as to become a developed country faster. Being located strategically between Middle east, Central Asia and India, it has huge potential to live out of India.
5. To enable all above the first thing needed is to revamp the education system all across. Bring in more scientific education. Bring up great engineering colleges. The syllabus should more universal than only Islamic. That way the generations will have better world view and would be better prepared to think out of box.
6. For the immediate future bite the bullet for sometime and put a pause on enemity with India. Accept the US aid and improve the society. Concentrate the forces on fighting the unaccountable warriors who has already started engulping Pakistan. Even ask for India’s help on that (try out your luck - may be you will be surprised). Once done you can still enjoy enemity with India. India cannot escape Pakistan as it will be neighbour always.
We need Pakistan (and not Talibanistan) for the world for the games (cricket hockey, squash, etc), music (we miss them), the dramas (Budda ghar pe hai !!!) and so many others. Once the trade starts, we may be having lots of Pakistan food chains, clothings, marbles, and so more.
Brother, together we are destined to be great but fighting each other will diminish our strength. We have stayed as brothers for 1000 years, I am sure we can continue to stay like that. Having houses side by side makes us take independent decisions but also help each other at the time of needs.
Your well wisher