...is bordered by Pakistan in the south and east. Since the late 1970s Afghanistan has suffered brutal civil war in addition to foreign interventions in the form of the 1979 Soviet invasion and the 2001 U.S. invasion. The strategic interests of the great powers of the day in Afghanistan pitched against the potential threat of terrorism, religious extremism, smuggling and drug trafficking substantiates the assertion that Afghan security situation has the potential to generate effects far beyond its borders. Afghanistan had experienced several coups since 1973, when the Afghan monarchy was overthrown by Daud Khan, who was sympathetic to Soviet overtures. Subsequent coups reflected struggles within Afghanistan among factions with different ideas about how Afghanistan should be governed and whether it should be communist, and with degrees warmth toward the Soviet Union. The Soviets intervened following the overthrow of a pro-communist leader. In late December 1979, after several months of evident military preparation, they invaded Afganistan. At that time, the Soviet Union and the United States were engaged in the Cold War, a global competition for the fealty of other nations. The United States was, thus, deeply interested in whether the Soviet Union would succeed in establishing a communist government loyal to Moscow in Afghanistan. In order to forestall that possibility, the United States began funding insurgent forces to oppose the Soviets. The U.S.-funded Afghan insurgents were...
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...Developmental Projects in Afghanistan and its impact on Pakistan THEME * Pakistan and Afghanistan are generally labeled as inseparable states due to their historical, religious, cultural, linguistic, trade and ethnic linkages. However, history of bilateral relations between Kabul and Islamabad reveals turbulence. The main reasons for this rocky relationship are the issues related to the Durand Line, the idea of a greater Pakhtunistan, the 1980’s Soviet War, the rise of the Taliban, post 9/11 war, and India’s rising influence in Afghanistan. Through multi-sectoral long-term development projects, apparently carving socio-economic space through application of soft power, India ultimately aims at enhancing its regional relevance to extract politico-economic benefits, while correspondingly constricting contemporary space for Pakistan. Indian sponsored / assisted projects in Afghanistan indicate their character to be more of anti-Pakistan than pro-Afghanistan. Development of road Zaranj-Delaram off sets Afghanistan’s over dependence on Pakistan for transit trade, through offering ground link to Iranian Port Chahbhar. Similarly, Indian offer to build water reservoirs on river Kabul can be termed as extension of her water war against Pakistan. It has implications for Pakistan on its economic, defense and foreign policy fronts. Apropos, carry out a detailed analysis of Indian sponsored / assisted projects directly or indirectly influencing Pakistan and recommend response options to safe...
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...In December 1979, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in an effort to preserve the communist government and ensure its own security, but it failed due to the superior tactics of guerilla fighters in a unique landscape and the United States’ support of the Afghan rebels. This war between Soviet forces and Afghan rebels was a struggle between the communist government and its opposition. The Soviet Union was unable to adjust to the terrain and battle space and was forced to withdrawal. This struggle highlights the strategic game that the United States and the Soviet Union played to prevent control by one another during the Cold War. According to Joseph Collins’ analysis of the Soviet invasion, the motives for the Soviets to invade Afghanistan...
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...independence of some state have always been there. Although history is full of territorial conflicts, the two most recent ones include the Palestine issue and the Kashmir issue. While Palestine issue was the result of the First World War and did create a huge impact on the international politics and foreign relations of several countries, however, the Kashmir issue is relatively a more regional conflict with its nucleus being the Indian subcontinent, and can be resolved if flexibility is shown by the conflicting parties. History Kashmir was initially ruled by Muslims, and was an integral part of the Pashtun Durrani Empire, which was primarily a dynasty of Afghan origin. The foundation of the Durrani Empire was laid by an Afghan commander, Ahmed Shah Durrani. When the East India Company started to lay its political foundations in the Indian subcontinent, they started massive annexations of areas that were previously ruled by local princes, nawabs and maharajas. During 1840s Kashmir went under the British control after they signed the Treaty of Lahore with the Sikhs. A few years British rewarded Kashmir to Gulab Singh Dogra, a Hindu general who helped British to annex Punjab. British were always apprehensive of the Russian Expansion in Afghan territory, which is why they had a major interest in installing a pro-British ruler in Kashmir. Ever since Kashmir was awarded to Gulab Singh Dogra, it remained under Hindu rule. On the contrary, Muslims constituted a major proportion...
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...2010 Soviet Intervention on Afghanistan When someone intervenes in your life, it’s usually to project their beliefs onto you and force you to stop a destructive behavior. During the Cold War, the Soviet Union intervened in Afghanistan, not to stop a destructive behavior, but to project their own wants and needs (for the oil and other resources) onto Afghan culture. Forcing them to submit to foreign rule, the people of Afghanistan fought back to protect their land, as a result creating a war that lasted for ten years. This conflict came to be known as the Soviet-Afghan War. Ultimately, the Soviet Union lost the war and retreated from Afghanistan. However, the effects of this war are still being felt today, as demonstrated in their foreign policies and political interactions with outside countries. Prior to the war, the Soviet Union was in control of the Afghan government. It was when Afghanistan made themselves a constitutional monarchy in 1953 (Origins of Soviet-Afghan War 1). It also began from a coup d’état by Afghan communists called the “Saur Revolution in 1978 (Afghanistan War 1). This created tensions between the Soviet Union’s puppet government and Afghan people, because they resented being ruled by a foreign power. Additionally the Soviet Union took advantage of the Afghan people by taking control of the oil fields, allowing the people to only keep a small percentage of the profits. The Soviet Union, to defend their interests continued to become more intimately...
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...Contribution to Global War no. Terror after2013): 37-56 37 PAKISTAN’S CONTRIBUTION TO GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR AFTER 9/11 Dr. Hidayat Khan∗ Abstract Pakistan’s contribution to the “War on Terror” far exceeds its strength and size. Pakistan lost more than 35000 lives to save American people from another 9/11 attack. Pakistan’s economic loss amounted to 67 billion US dollars but still the US is not satisfied with Pakistan’s performance and pressurizes it to “Do More.” In this situation what should Pakistan do as a sovereign state? At the same time what is the international community’s responsibility towards Pakistan as a partner in this global war? The United States (US) and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) have been fighting against the Taliban for the last decade but the war is nowhere near its end. This study is an exploration of the question whether war is the solution or the problem? Key Words: War on Terror, World Response, Pakistan’s Contribution, Operations, Agreements. Background P akistan has always played a constructive role in the United Nations (UN) — it is one of its largest net troop contributors and its active role in the solution of world issues is internationally recognized. It borders three major strategic regions; South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East, and its geographical proximity to Afghanistan has made it an important partner of the United States. Pakistan has played a significant role, both during the Cold War and as a non-NATO...
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...the largest refugee crises experienced since the inception of the UNHCR. Decades of war have led millions to flee their homes and seek refuge in the neighboring countries of Pakistan and Iran, and for those who were able, further abroad. The number of refugees spiked in 1990 at 6.2 million. They began to decrease in 1992 with the fall of the government, but began to increase again in 1996 with the rise of the Taliban. In 2002, with the fall of the Taliban and the US-led invasion, record numbers of Afghan refugees returned to Afghanistan. An international reconstruction and development initiative began to aid Afghans in rebuilding their country from decades of war. Reports indicate that change is occurring in Afghanistan, but the progress is slow. The Taliban have regained strength in the second half of this decade and insurgency and instability are rising. Afghanistan continues to be challenged by underdevelopment, lack of infrastructure, few employment opportunities, and widespread poverty. The slow pace of change has led Afghans to continue migrating in order to meet the needs of their families. Today refugee movements no longer characterize the primary source of Afghan migration. Migration in search of livelihoods is the primary reasons for migration and occurs through rural-urban migration in Afghanistan or circular migration patterns as Afghans cross into Pakistan and/or Iran. Afghans utilize their social networks to find low-skilled work in the cities or neighboring...
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... rather than the countries fund the program. Countries banding together to assist each other to help prevent further narcotic movements are future goals sought after by the program. Osh and Brussels states that according to their article, "opiates have fueled conflict throughout the region and are likely to have been a significant source of financial support for terrorist organizations with a global reach" (Osh/Brussels, 2001). The strain on security and social issues caused by the Silk Road drug trade have begun to affect the neighboring nations of Afghanistan. "Afghanistan is generally regarded as the world's largest exporter of heroin" and that "there are direct links between the drug business, arms purchases for the country's civil war, and the activities of terrorists" (Osh/Brussels, 2001). They believe that...
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...During theses deployments, I never focused on the past, present, and future of Afghanistan. I only focused on my mission at hand. I did basic research about the culture, and geography, but I never focused on what makes Afghanistan what it is; a country that by today's international standards has devolved. As I write this paper, I have a few goals. First, is to expand my knowledge base on the country, which in the long run will have a direct affect on my missions. Secondly, I wish to answer the question "How has the past forty years of constant conflict affected Afghanistan's past, present, and future". I want to look at this as a study because Afghanistan has been in a constant state of war for the last forty years, and it has taken its toll. Generations of Afghani's have never known peace, only war. In order to do a proper analysis on an entire country and its people, I will address the PMESII-P factors, though not sequentially. PMESII-P is a military acronym that stands for Political, military, economic, social, information, infrastructure, and physical environment. PMESII-P is a "reliable framework for analysis that, when applied judiciously, will lead to a sophisticated understanding of the dynamics within the foreign country or region of their assignment. Furthermore, the framework provides the start point for specific analyses of associated operational issues, questions, and problems". While this is not intended to be an exhaustive research, looking at a nations past, and...
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...English 135 June 28, 2011 Introduction So, in the end it was not a cold, dark Afghan cave that sheltered the world's most wanted man, Osama bin Laden. It was a huge million dollar home in Abbottabad, Pakistan, with far too much security and 18-foot high walls, much taller than necessary to protect the two couriers who allegedly lived there alone. A U.S. bullet into his head, among other places, is what brought the sudden end to Bin Laden's life after a 10-year hunt for the spiritual leader of the global Al-Qaeda terrorist franchise and the master plotter of the 9/11 attacks, which killed nearly 3,000 people. The death of Osama bin Laden has raised many questions; what impact does his death have on U.S. counter-terrorism activities, Al-Qaeda and Islamic extremism, and U.S./NATO efforts in Afghanistan? More importantly, is the world any safer now than it was before? U.S. efforts to combat terrorism Without doubt, the death of the Al-Qaida leader is a great achievement in the global fight against terrorism. The spontaneous celebrations that broke out across the U.S. show how eagerly Americans were waiting to see this day. “History's most expansive, expensive and exasperating manhunt has finally ended, but the most expensive war against terrorism still has a long way to go.” (China Post, 2011) While we take comfort in his removal, we must not become complacent in our efforts to win the war on terror. Bin Laden’s death stands as a favorable victory to the world, but it...
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...REFLECTION OF PAKISTAN FOREIGN POLICY INTRODUCTION Pakistan is a major participant in the global efforts to curb transnational terrorism initiated after the terrorist attacks in the United States in September 2001. This enhanced Pakistan's strategic relevance for the major powers, especially the United States, which cultivated Pakistan for combating terrorism and ensuring peace and stability in the post-Taliban Afghanistan. Its strategic relevance has varied over time which had implications for Pakistan's role at the international level and the foreign policy options available to its policy makers. This briefing paper examines the changing patterns of Pakistan's foreign policy and how its position and role in international and regional politics has varied over time. Pakistan recognizes that it is neither possible nor advisable to stay in isolation in the present day interdependent and complex international system. It needs to interact with other states, international and regional organizations and supranational actors in order to protect and promote its national interests and sovereign identity. Its activism reflects a realization that such a policy facilities the mobilization of International support and resources for its domestic socio-economic development, helps to regulate the inputs from the external environment into the internal context, and contributes to strengthening security and territorial integrity which are the principal concerns of Pakistan's foreign policy...
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...answers, in either draft or final form, with anyone else. * Answers must be typed, double-spaced, and no more than 2 pages in length per question. * Use Times New Roman size 12 pitch font. One inch margins. * Clearly identify the question you are answering. * Any quotations from the assigned student readings are to be parenthetical (Huntington, pg. 8). Quotations from sources outside assigned student readings are to have complete citation. * You are not authorized to copy, reproduce or share this examination. Answer These Questions 1. Based upon the attached Remarks by the President in Address to the Nation on the Way Forward in Afghanistan and Pakistan, what vital national interest does the President see at stake in Afghanistan and how does our involvement support that interest? Explain and support your point of view using specific examples from official U.S. documents (NSS, NDS, QDR, etc.). 2. Why and how does the 2008 National Defense Strategy counterbalance the armed forces’ past tendency to focus on conventional threats and conflicts? 3. What ends and their associated ways and means are specified for Somalia in the attached...
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...POLICY BRIEF SUMMARY SHAPING EUROPE’S AFGHAN SURGE Daniel Korski Unnoticed by many, the last few years have seen something of a European military surge in Afghanistan. Since late 2006, 18 of the 25 EU countries participating in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), NATO’s Afghan mission, have increased their troop contributions, and as a result EU member states now account for 43% of ISAF’s total deployment. This military surge has been accompanied by a steady growth in European efforts to contribute to Afghanistan’s reconstruction, from development aid to police training – although not every EU member state is pulling its weight. These measures have made the EU a major stakeholder in Afghanistan. Yet the EU’s real impact on the country has been limited. In the face of a likely request from the Obama administration to do more, European governments should now formulate a hard-headed political strategy as a complement to the coming US military surge. Introduction President Barack Obama and his secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, have made it clear that they expect a significant enhancement of the European effort in Afghanistan. The issue is likely to be viewed in Washington as a litmus test of whether the Europeans can be taken seriously as strategic partners. Obama’s strategy in Afghanistan is likely to include an attempt to “regionalise” the issue, involving some kind of dialogue with Iran and efforts to bring India, the Gulf states and the central Asian...
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...The Change Wheel Personal and Global Perspectives Task 1: Personal Changes Identification 1. Environment 2. Job 3. Language 4. Loneliness 5. Education 6. Meeting new people Task 2: Personal Change Assessment 1. Environment Afghanistan’s environment is under great pressure. The decades of conflict, on-going instability, overall poverty, prolonged droughts and susceptibility to other natural hazards, population increase and influx of displaced and returning population –have all exacted a heavy toll on the environment and natural resource base of the country. Afghanistan is made up of 34 provinces and I used to live in capital of Afghanistan ( Kabul ) Where most people of provinces moved in to capital because of financial issue’s , insecurity , lagged and much more trouble’s. Kabul is not a perfect place to live but it’s much better place from other provinces of Afghanistan , I lived there more than 10 years. On October 2014 I came to United States and suddenly I felt everything’s changed in my life Here , got a chance to live in a better place so I can promote my life via better education and live a better life then Afghanistan. 2. Job I used to be a jobless man but when I moved here in United States I got a job to earn money , to gain some experience for my background , to meet new people everything is still new for me here in Virginia it was a good step for me. 3. Language My native language is Dari (Persian)...
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...Khaled Hosseini was born in Kabul, Afghanistan, in 1965. His father was a diplomat in Afghan government at that time and his mother taught History in Kabul. However, after the Soviet Invasion, Khaled and his family moved to the United States in the 1980s. In the US, he completed high school and went on to get his Medical Degree. He started writing while working published his fist book in 2004, which was The Kite Runner. Summary: A Thousand Splendid Suns is a story about two women and their lives in Afghanistan during the invasion of the Soviet of Afghanistan and the Taliban regime. It shows the suffering of Afghan citizens and their sacrifice in time of war. In this story, the two women named Mariam and Laila play an important role of a typical wife in Afghanistan who have to face torture and brutality from their husband and society. The story starts out by introducing Mariam, who is an unwanted teenager. In the story, she is forced to marry Rasheed, an abusive husband at age 15. Rasheed is a cruel man who breaks Mariam’s dreams and tortures her everyday. On the other hand, Laila is an attractive girl who lives just up the street from Mariam’s house. She is born to educated parents and enjoys the freedoms that Mariam is restricted from by Rasheed. She has a boyfriend named Tariq, but their plans to marry get destroyed when he has to leave the country and move to Pakistan as a refugee. After her boyfriend left, a rocket destroys Laila’s home and family...
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