America's Dilema...

[aFgHaNibOi]

Can someone please tell me why America is so *buddy*buddy* with Pakistan? I mean, if they really wanna get rid of this blasted nuisance we call the Taliban, they should really tell Pakistan how it is...just wondering though... :roll:

[Seraphim]

Hmmm good question...I do know there are lots of rebels in the mountains on Pakistans side.

[aFgHaNibOi]

Hmmm good question...I do know there are lots of rebels in the mountains on Pakistans side.

Yes. To put it bluntly, there are tonnes of rebels in the Northern Mountains of Pakistan, but some are also Pakistan's very army.

I sincerely hope that you know that Pakistan was the one who created the Taliban...

[16 OBr SpN]

Can someone please tell me why America is so *buddy*buddy* with Pakistan? I mean, if they really wanna get rid of this blasted nuisance we call the Taliban, they should really tell Pakistan how it is...just wondering though... :roll:



Assalamu aleykum!

Shumo Afghonistona az kadom shaharash meshaved?

I'm sorry, I haven't practiced my Dari for a long time. Or are you a Pashtu, Uzbek, Hazori?

Pakistan is trying to create a buffer zone on it's backyard due to tensions with India. China is also playing a big role in Afghanistan.

If you think about it just a little bit: USA, Russia, China, Pakistan, India, Britain and Iran have strategic interests in Afghanistan. So you can imagine how complicated the situation is.

For example: We used to go into numerous operations, when we were helping out Ahmad-Shoh and Fohim-Hon to fight against Taliban (way before 9/11). Man, we saw all kinds of people out there: germans, french, and even malaysians.

[aFgHaNibOi]

Can someone please tell me why America is so *buddy*buddy* with Pakistan? I mean, if they really wanna get rid of this blasted nuisance we call the Taliban, they should really tell Pakistan how it is...just wondering though... :roll:



Assalamu aleykum!

Shumo Afghonistona az kadom shaharash meshaved?

I'm sorry, I haven't practiced my Dari for a long time. Or are you a Pashtu, Uzbek, Hazori?

Pakistan is trying to create a buffer zone on it's backyard due to tensions with India. China is also playing a big role in Afghanistan.

If you think about it just a little bit: USA, Russia, China, Pakistan, India, Britain and Iran have strategic interests in Afghanistan. So you can imagine how complicated the situation is.

For example: We used to go into numerous operations, when we were helping out Ahmad-Shoh and Fohim-Hon to fight against Taliban (way before 9/11). Man, we saw all kinds of people out there: germans, french, and even malaysians.



Wa Alaikum asSalam brother!
Mah az Qandaharom. You've got a great start on your Farsi/Dari bro! Just practice and you've got it!

As far as those ethnicities are concerned, I am niether. I am not Pashtun, Uzbek, or Hazara. I'm neither of those, Tajik included. I'm merely an Afghan, and other Afghans need to realize this as well...

Now, your reply...I see it as this, if Afghanistan is destabalized once again, the whole world will feel it, not just the neighboring countries!

[aFgHaNibOi]

And Pakistan is the one that is compromising Afghanistan's peace, and America's, as well as the International Forces', efforts...

[ßå$tĮТHÏ¿ð]

tell em like it is and then do'em something awefull :P

[aFgHaNibOi]

tell em like it is and then do'em something awefull :P

Well, yeah, but you don't see that happening... :|

[16 OBr SpN]

And Pakistan is the one that is compromising Afghanistan's peace, and America's, as well as the International Forces', efforts...



When Taliban came to power, if you know there was a big bloodbath in Mazari-Sharif.
Dustum and Kamgar turned their backs on Ahmad-Shoh, and basically sent their men to a slaughter. Hamid Gul of Pakistani ISI sent several thousands of Pakistanis, to back the Taliban.
But later on, Dustum and Ahmad-Shoh became allies again. I could never understand it, although I spent almost 1.5 years in Panj Sher, along with several of my colleagues.
Afghanistan will always be in state of war, unless Afghani people unite. But at the time being it pretty much sounds like a utopia. But Insha Allah, maybe it will happen some day.

Being a Russian, I have a great respect for you guys, and still have lots of friends in Afghanistan.
The only ones, which don't deserve to live are the Pakistani, Arab, Chechen, and other mercenaries. Well, we took a good care of them in many instances. ;)

[aFgHaNibOi]

And Pakistan is the one that is compromising Afghanistan's peace, and America's, as well as the International Forces', efforts...



When Taliban came to power, if you know there was a big bloodbath in Mazari-Sharif.
Dustum and Kamgar turned their backs on Ahmad-Shoh, and basically sent their men to a slaughter. Hamid Gul of Pakistani ISI sent several thousands of Pakistanis, to back the Taliban.
But later on, Dustum and Ahmad-Shoh became allies again. I could never understand it, although I spent almost 1.5 years in Panj Sher, along with several of my colleagues.
Afghanistan will always be in state of war, unless Afghani people unite. But at the time being it pretty much sounds like a utopia. But Insha Allah, maybe it will happen some day.

Being a Russian, I have a great respect for you guys, and still have lots of friends in Afghanistan.
The only ones, which don't deserve to live are the Pakistani, Arab, Chechen, and other mercenaries. Well, we took a good care of them in many instances. ;)

I completely agree with what you are saying. But the fact still remains, the problem is still there, and who do you think is helping with all of this "sudden" Talib emergence? Everywhere you see something about Taliban, it happens in the south, along our "too long" border with Pakistan. Truly, I am trying to give advice here. Pakistan is the root cause of Afghanistan's troubles, believe me on that brother!

P.S. Afghans and Russians have their share of history together bro! ;)

[aFgHaNibOi]

I mean look at this, if they [Taliban] were really there for helping Afghanistan, then why would they do so much harm?

And now, they are still trying to come back, Pakistan of course is helping them behind America's back...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3252303.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3209639.stm

Many more stories like these out there...

[ßå$tĮТHÏ¿ð]

wow bbc cant spell worth a rats ass "Taleban" hahaha they spelt it wrong...good old new's media cant even use spell checking :slap:
Ya think they would have got it right by now.....

[The Walrus]

The american government would probably say something like 'Pakistan is fully co-operating with the war on terror and doing all it can to remove the Taliban menace' or something like that, I on the other hand believe that the major lesson learned by dictators after Afghanistan/Iraq is that if you want to be a ruthless dictator these days, it's best to be on America's good side, countries like Saudi-Arabia and Pakistan which kiss America's ass sleep safely knowing that regime change won't come to them.
I also believe that the main reason for why America went to Afghanistan was because it would be seen as a sign of weakness were America not to be seen to retaliate after the biggest foreign attack on American soil since the early 19th century.

[usa320]

Heres my take on all this.

The Pakistanis are definately helping somewhat.

They have big intelligence networks in most the major cities that make finding and picking up terrorists in built up areas significantly easier. They also have allowed the FBI and CIA to investigate and carry out raids in Karachi, amongst other places, i reckon thats where they picked up Khalid Sheik Muhammed or whatever that nasty furry guys name is...

However, to the north they arent doing nearly enough to help the US find and eliminate terrorist leadership and assets. They really need to seal the border and let the US poke around in them tribal areas.

[aktarian]

Can someone please tell me why America is so *buddy*buddy* with Pakistan? I mean, if they really wanna get rid of this blasted nuisance we call the Taliban, they should really tell Pakistan how it is...just wondering though... :roll:



Because there are only two ways to get from sea to Afghanistan. One is through Pakisitan. The other is through Iran. Which one do you think will be easier to persuade to be friends with US?

[aktarian]

wow bbc cant spell worth a rats ass "Taleban" hahaha they spelt it wrong...good old new's media cant even use spell checking :slap:
Ya think they would have got it right by now.....

You don't hear Brits (or Americans) complaining other one is misspeling colo(u)r.

You should be aware that there are often various transcripts of some words, specially when translating from languages that don't use latin script.

[aFgHaNibOi]

Can someone please tell me why America is so *buddy*buddy* with Pakistan? I mean, if they really wanna get rid of this blasted nuisance we call the Taliban, they should really tell Pakistan how it is...just wondering though... :roll:



Because there are only two ways to get from sea to Afghanistan. One is through Pakisitan. The other is through Iran. Which one do you think will be easier to persuade to be friends with US?

Good analogy. ;)

[aFgHaNibOi]

To the fellow members...would you like it if I gave you some "inside" info on this whole situation? Let me ask you guys, have you heard of border disputes between the two nations?

[aktarian]

To the fellow members...would you like it if I gave you some "inside" info on this whole situation? Let me ask you guys, have you heard of border disputes between the two nations?



Which two countries? Pakistan and Afghanistan?

[Haiw]

don't get into fights whether it's Al-Qaeda or Al-Qaida, or Taleban or Taliban; it's all wrong since the regular spelling is in arab...and there's simply no way you can completely accurately translate it into our alfabet...
same kinda goes for russian; the russians actually write Specnaz, but everyone in the west writes spetsnaz..cus it's ****ounced that way

[aFgHaNibOi]

To the fellow members...would you like it if I gave you some "inside" info on this whole situation? Let me ask you guys, have you heard of border disputes between the two nations?



Which two countries? Pakistan and Afghanistan?

Yes.

[jdbjdb]

Can someone please tell me why America is so *buddy*buddy* with Pakistan?
The United States needed a staging point for our war on terrorism, we started with Pakistan, Afghanistans neighbor. Americas relations with Pakistan before 9/11 were in bad shape, then 9/11 happened, and the Pakistani dictator saw this as a chance to make his personal bank account explode, plus the billions that Pakistan owed was written off.

[sasr2]

"The United States needed a staging point for our war on terrorism, "

I still can't work out what the average Talibani actually did to the states...except deny repeated begs for an oil pipeline through it from the caspian. Sure Osama was there, but that mattered none cause it can't be proven as he hasn't been seen nor caught...so instead the USA upturned the Taliban, killing thousands of innocents in the meantime, whilst allowing a brief break for Pakistani SIS to fly out, turned power back to feuding warlords and now has effective control of less turf than what the Russians held...

Good Job guys, equally matched as well in Iraq...talk about on a roll !!!!

[aktarian]

To the fellow members...would you like it if I gave you some "inside" info on this whole situation? Let me ask you guys, have you heard of border disputes between the two nations?



Which two countries? Pakistan and Afghanistan?

Yes.



Are there border disputes? I know Pashtuns live on both sides of the border and Pakistani Army was only recently deployed in NW Province along the border. Prior to this this was semo autonomuous area where central gov't didn't have much influence.

[fantassin]

There are currently over 150 French Special Forces operators on the Afghani-Pakistani border hunting Al-Qaida with the US Forces. Unlike some others Coalition forces that remain in Kabul, they asked for (and got) a "hot" sector in which they've been since June.

No media coverage so far because it doesn't fit with the image of the "surrendering monkeys" of course.

But ask the American forces of CJTF 180 and they'll tell you what they think....

[aFgHaNibOi]

Can someone please tell me why America is so *buddy*buddy* with Pakistan?
The United States needed a staging point for our war on terrorism, we started with Pakistan, Afghanistans neighbor. Americas relations with Pakistan before 9/11 were in bad shape, then 9/11 happened, and the Pakistani dictator saw this as a chance to make his personal bank account explode, plus the billions that Pakistan owed was written off.

Is that so? I would've thought so...since Money=God to Pakistanis...

[aFgHaNibOi]

"The United States needed a staging point for our war on terrorism, "

I still can't work out what the average Talibani actually did to the states...except deny repeated begs for an oil pipeline through it from the caspian. Sure Osama was there, but that mattered none cause it can't be proven as he hasn't been seen nor caught...so instead the USA upturned the Taliban, killing thousands of innocents in the meantime, whilst allowing a brief break for Pakistani SIS to fly out, turned power back to feuding warlords and now has effective control of less turf than what the Russians held...

Good Job guys, equally matched as well in Iraq...talk about on a roll !!!!

Great points! UBL is "chillin'" with Musharraf right now in Islamabad. ;)

[aFgHaNibOi]

To the fellow members...would you like it if I gave you some "inside" info on this whole situation? Let me ask you guys, have you heard of border disputes between the two nations?



Which two countries? Pakistan and Afghanistan?

Yes.



Are there border disputes? I know Pashtuns live on both sides of the border and Pakistani Army was only recently deployed in NW Province along the border. Prior to this this was semo autonomuous area where central gov't didn't have much influence.



Yes. There are definetely disputes.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/3056034.stm

ABOUT WHO THESE BODIES BELONG TO...http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/2966874.stm


THERE ARE TONNES OF OTHER STORIES LIKE THESE...

[aFgHaNibOi]

A BIT LONG, BUT IT IS DEFINETELY WORTH READING! IT WAS WRITTEN WHEN THE TALIBAN WERE STILL IN POWER...

The Unholy Durand Line, Buffering the Buffer

By
By Dr. G. Rauf Roashan

Aug 11, 2001

Abstract: The British signed a document with the person of King Abdul Rahman Khan in 1893 referring to the borders between Afghanistan and British India. The line devised by the British was worked by the British Colonial Officer Durand and thus became known as the Durand Line. The document was to be ratified by the legislative body in Afghanistan. It never happened. It was to remain in force for one hundred years. It has not been revived on the deadline, which was 1993 either. Pakistan and now especially its military government is trying disparately to pressure Taleban into what Pakistani interior minister Moinuddin Haider calls revival of the sanctification of the Durand Line. Legally the Durand Line remains as an imaginary line dividing families on both sides. It has never been demarcated either, especially from Khyber Agency north to Chitral. This artificial and imaginary line is increasingly becoming an area of conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan even with Taleban regime that ironically has the political and military support of the government of Pakistan. A recent visit by an armed convoy of Taleban officials to Mohmand Agency has touched many nerves in Pakistan and has left it in shock. Friday Times of Pakistan reported the incident.
Pakistan seems to be possessed with its insistence on what its interior minister Moinuddin Haider has called the need for sanctification of the Durand Line. This column has dealt with the historical perspective of the Durand Line in its earlier commentaries. (Refer to the commentary: Sanctity of the Unholy in this column's archives.) The same minister had traveled a few times into Afghanistan for talks with Taleban on the same issue. He has been reported pressing hard for recognition of this “imaginary line” by Taleban. Pakistani military government had even staged situations of conflict in the border areas in order to drive its point home for recognition of the border. Throughout, notwithstanding their relations with Pakistan, Taleban have resisted the pressure. Moinuddin Haider returned home from Afghanistan without any commitment from Taleban on the issue and as a matter of fact on any issue of importance including his government's request from Taleban not to destroy the historical statues of Buddha in Bamiyan.

No legislative body in Afghanistan ever ratified the Durand Line agreement, signed by the British with the person of King Abdul Rahman Khan in 1893, and therefore as far as its legality is concerned it remains as a defunct historical document showing colonial designs in the third world countries. The Line was devised by the British to strengthen the status of Afghanistan as a buffer between the British India and the expanding Russian empire desirous of reaching the warm waters of the Indian Ocean and for that matter the rich colonial lands of the subcontinent of India. But when the British left India in 1947 for good, it should have returned Afghan territory at least including the area up to the natural border, the River Indus to Afghanistan. Instead, still dreaming of keeping its colonial interests alive in the subcontinent the British gave this territory to Pakistan, thus creating a double buffer zone between the expansionist Soviet Union and the Indian Ocean. This deprived Afghanistan of direct access to the sea. But this was not the only objective, the British-authored project of Durand Line wanted to achieve. It wanted to separate the Pashtoonland by an imaginary line. It would divide not only the land, but would separate families, fathers from sons and brothers from brothers.

However, last Friday, the Friday Times of Pakistan published a comprehensive report on an important incident that challenges the very existence of the notion of the Durand Line. It reported a visit by a high level group of 95 Taleban including their interior minister in a convoy of heavily armed vehicles to Mohmand Agency. The report says the visit “has revived Afghanistan's claim on the area and left Islamabad shocked.” The report added TFT has learnt that the delegation, which was accorded a warm welcome by local chieftains and returned the same day whence it had come, visited a number of places in the agency, most notably the Khapakh area, some 20 kilometers west of Ghalanai. It seems that the visit had prompted the local assistant political agent Mutahar Zeb, to send urgent reports to the Home and Tribal Affairs Department. But Pakistani authorities have downplayed the significance of the visit stating that the group was there to offer condolence to a bereaved family. Manzoor Ahmed, additional secretary in the Department is reported to have said that the practice is normal since Mohmands live on both sides of the Durand Line and share their grief and happiness.

But this is exactly the point any political observer would make. If a tribe is so cohesively entwined, how could any imaginary line divide it? But the Friday Times report also deals with other aspects of the visit. It says: “However, he (Ahmed) could not explain why it was important for the Taleban interior minister to come to Mohmand Agency all the way from Kabul. According to one malik (chieftain) of the Khoizai tribe, the Taliban expressed anger at the Mohmand sub-tribes' urge to get Pakistani identity cards. "This is our land. We will give you the (identity) cards," the malik quoted one Taliban delegation member as saying at a tea party, attended among other chieftains by Malik Fazal Manan, a former member of Pakistan's national assembly. During one of the ceremonies, the delegation also hoisted the Taliban flag at Khapakh.” It is worth mentioning that the visit had scared the Pakistani government so much so that it went ahead and arrested two tribal chieftains namely Malik Abid and Malik Naseem for interrogation and released them after 72 hours. The report further states: “Kabul has refused to renew the Durand Line treaty since 1993 when it expired, " says an Afghanistan expert. One of the reasons Pakistan faced problems with the Kabul rulers right from its inception was Kabul's claim over the North West frontier Province." Kabul never accepted that line or the fact that the NWFP is part of Pakistan. This was one of the main policy planks used by Sardar Daoud's government when it tried to foment trouble by Pukhtoon nationalists in the NWFP on the issue of greater Pukhtoonistan," says this expert.”

The Durand Line treaty worked by the British was singed in 1893 and was to stay in force for one hundred years. Even if the treaty were ratified by a legal legislative body in Afghanistan its validity would have been expired in 1993 and there is no record of it ever having been revived. Pakistan heavily invested in Taleban for many reasons one of which was what its interior minister calls the sanctification of the Durand Line. However, it should be stated that matters such acceptance or rejection of international borders legally are the responsibility of legislative bodies within states and no executive officer can take over this right. In this respect Taleban are justified in having not taken any decision, as they are not legally qualified to do so. This extremely important and vital issue should be dealt with utmost care and true national representation. Even this imaginary line remains unmarked from Khyber Agency up into Chitral. It has been so for that past one hundred and four years. It will remain so for hundreds of years to come.

This is a testimony to the fact that no artificial line, not even those devised by colonial powers, can and should separate masses of humanity that belong together. 08/11/01

[jdbjdb]

muslim terrorist are doing their best to get a war to break out between Pakistan and India over Kashmir.

[Seiyuuki]

"KEEP YOUR FRIENDS CLOSE AND KEEP YOUR ENEMIES CLOSER."

[aFgHaNibOi]

muslim terrorist are doing their best to get a war to break out between Pakistan and India over Kashmir.

Pakistan by all means should leave Kashmir alone...because after all, Kashmiris are also Afghans [Kasi is a Pashtun tribe, "Mir" is a Pashto word e.g. Mirali] it's actually
Kasimiris - [turned into] Kashmir.You will be astonished to know that Butt [funny name I know] living in Punjab and Kashmirs are actually Buttkhel Afghans(Buttagram, Buttkhela etc). No matter what language they have adopted during process of assimilation they were and are Afghans...

[aFgHaNibOi]

"KEEP YOUR FRIENDS CLOSE AND KEEP YOUR ENEMIES CLOSER."



Indeed. ;)

[786mine]

And Pakistan is the one that is compromising Afghanistan's peace, and America's, as well as the International Forces', efforts...



No, its Afghanistan compromising on its own peace. The don't have the balls to deal with problem with war lords and blame Pakistan for all of it. Its really getting old to heard from the Afghani that Pakistan is doing this, doing that. If that is they case, pack up your bags, leave Pakistan. Quit smuggling and quit doing your drugs through Pakistan.

[786mine]

A BIT LONG, BUT IT IS DEFINETELY WORTH READING! IT WAS WRITTEN WHEN THE TALIBAN WERE STILL IN POWER...

The Unholy Durand Line, Buffering the Buffer

By
By Dr. G. Rauf Roashan

Aug 11, 2001

Abstract: The British signed a document with the person of King Abdul Rahman Khan in 1893 referring to the borders between Afghanistan and British India. The line devised by the British was worked by the British Colonial Officer Durand and thus became known as the Durand Line. The document was to be ratified by the legislative body in Afghanistan. It never happened. It was to remain in force for one hundred years. It has not been revived on the deadline, which was 1993 either. Pakistan and now especially its military government is trying disparately to pressure Taleban into what Pakistani interior minister Moinuddin Haider calls revival of the sanctification of the Durand Line. Legally the Durand Line remains as an imaginary line dividing families on both sides. It has never been demarcated either, especially from Khyber Agency north to Chitral. This artificial and imaginary line is increasingly becoming an area of conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan even with Taleban regime that ironically has the political and military support of the government of Pakistan. A recent visit by an armed convoy of Taleban officials to Mohmand Agency has touched many nerves in Pakistan and has left it in shock. Friday Times of Pakistan reported the incident.
Pakistan seems to be possessed with its insistence on what its interior minister Moinuddin Haider has called the need for sanctification of the Durand Line. This column has dealt with the historical perspective of the Durand Line in its earlier commentaries. (Refer to the commentary: Sanctity of the Unholy in this column's archives.) The same minister had traveled a few times into Afghanistan for talks with Taleban on the same issue. He has been reported pressing hard for recognition of this “imaginary line” by Taleban. Pakistani military government had even staged situations of conflict in the border areas in order to drive its point home for recognition of the border. Throughout, notwithstanding their relations with Pakistan, Taleban have resisted the pressure. Moinuddin Haider returned home from Afghanistan without any commitment from Taleban on the issue and as a matter of fact on any issue of importance including his government's request from Taleban not to destroy the historical statues of Buddha in Bamiyan.

No legislative body in Afghanistan ever ratified the Durand Line agreement, signed by the British with the person of King Abdul Rahman Khan in 1893, and therefore as far as its legality is concerned it remains as a defunct historical document showing colonial designs in the third world countries. The Line was devised by the British to strengthen the status of Afghanistan as a buffer between the British India and the expanding Russian empire desirous of reaching the warm waters of the Indian Ocean and for that matter the rich colonial lands of the subcontinent of India. But when the British left India in 1947 for good, it should have returned Afghan territory at least including the area up to the natural border, the River Indus to Afghanistan. Instead, still dreaming of keeping its colonial interests alive in the subcontinent the British gave this territory to Pakistan, thus creating a double buffer zone between the expansionist Soviet Union and the Indian Ocean. This deprived Afghanistan of direct access to the sea. But this was not the only objective, the British-authored project of Durand Line wanted to achieve. It wanted to separate the Pashtoonland by an imaginary line. It would divide not only the land, but would separate families, fathers from sons and brothers from brothers.

However, last Friday, the Friday Times of Pakistan published a comprehensive report on an important incident that challenges the very existence of the notion of the Durand Line. It reported a visit by a high level group of 95 Taleban including their interior minister in a convoy of heavily armed vehicles to Mohmand Agency. The report says the visit “has revived Afghanistan's claim on the area and left Islamabad shocked.” The report added TFT has learnt that the delegation, which was accorded a warm welcome by local chieftains and returned the same day whence it had come, visited a number of places in the agency, most notably the Khapakh area, some 20 kilometers west of Ghalanai. It seems that the visit had prompted the local assistant political agent Mutahar Zeb, to send urgent reports to the Home and Tribal Affairs Department. But Pakistani authorities have downplayed the significance of the visit stating that the group was there to offer condolence to a bereaved family. Manzoor Ahmed, additional secretary in the Department is reported to have said that the practice is normal since Mohmands live on both sides of the Durand Line and share their grief and happiness.

But this is exactly the point any political observer would make. If a tribe is so cohesively entwined, how could any imaginary line divide it? But the Friday Times report also deals with other aspects of the visit. It says: “However, he (Ahmed) could not explain why it was important for the Taleban interior minister to come to Mohmand Agency all the way from Kabul. According to one malik (chieftain) of the Khoizai tribe, the Taliban expressed anger at the Mohmand sub-tribes' urge to get Pakistani identity cards. "This is our land. We will give you the (identity) cards," the malik quoted one Taliban delegation member as saying at a tea party, attended among other chieftains by Malik Fazal Manan, a former member of Pakistan's national assembly. During one of the ceremonies, the delegation also hoisted the Taliban flag at Khapakh.” It is worth mentioning that the visit had scared the Pakistani government so much so that it went ahead and arrested two tribal chieftains namely Malik Abid and Malik Naseem for interrogation and released them after 72 hours. The report further states: “Kabul has refused to renew the Durand Line treaty since 1993 when it expired, " says an Afghanistan expert. One of the reasons Pakistan faced problems with the Kabul rulers right from its inception was Kabul's claim over the North West frontier Province." Kabul never accepted that line or the fact that the NWFP is part of Pakistan. This was one of the main policy planks used by Sardar Daoud's government when it tried to foment trouble by Pukhtoon nationalists in the NWFP on the issue of greater Pukhtoonistan," says this expert.”

The Durand Line treaty worked by the British was singed in 1893 and was to stay in force for one hundred years. Even if the treaty were ratified by a legal legislative body in Afghanistan its validity would have been expired in 1993 and there is no record of it ever having been revived. Pakistan heavily invested in Taleban for many reasons one of which was what its interior minister calls the sanctification of the Durand Line. However, it should be stated that matters such acceptance or rejection of international borders legally are the responsibility of legislative bodies within states and no executive officer can take over this right. In this respect Taleban are justified in having not taken any decision, as they are not legally qualified to do so. This extremely important and vital issue should be dealt with utmost care and true national representation. Even this imaginary line remains unmarked from Khyber Agency up into Chitral. It has been so for that past one hundred and four years. It will remain so for hundreds of years to come.

This is a testimony to the fact that no artificial line, not even those devised by colonial powers, can and should separate masses of humanity that belong together. 08/11/01





The Durrand line is almost 200 years old. The Afghanis lost the war with the UK, and all through the years the Afghanis still claim. Please! :fork: :-*$