A big unresolved issue for Afghanistan is the Durand Line question. Initially negotiated between Afghanistan and Britain as a line of control, represents a de facto border that neither side fully accepts, with some Afghan officials arguing the “real” border extends deep into Pakistan, enveloping the tribal areas and more.
Fighting erupts in that area sometimes, with the respective nations’ “border guards” guarding very different borders, and on Sunday night into Monday, heavy gunfire was traded, ending with Pakistan closing its main border crossing, one Afghan guard killed and a total of 22 wounded on both sides.
This latest fighting was sparked by Pakistan installing more of its border fence, which by Pakistani reckoning is some 30 meters into Pakistani territory, and by Afghanistan reckoning is right in the middle of Afghanistan. Arguments ensued, and eventually gunfire.
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry lodged a “strong protest” to the Afghan government after the incident, saying they expected Afghan officials to fully investigate what happened and to cooperate with mutual security along the border.
Pakistan is installing secure borders because Afghanistan can’t manage their TERRORISTS! Pakistan already told them beforehand, but it appears ANA does not want Pakistan closing their borders, the ANA fired first as a result Pakistan retaliated. This is an important step for a safe and secure region in order to thwart terrorist movement between borders.
Last month an Afghanistan intelligence agent was caught in Pakistan and in his possession he had, bomb jackets, explosives, weapons and detonators. He was taken by the Pakistani authorities for interrogation.
The border was 37 meters inside Pakistan. Here’s a diagrammatic design and outline.
This is an end game. Pakistan is politically consolidated as the country never was in its history. It was always a preserve of US/Pakistani military projects. Their last major project was the creation of Taliban, using Saudi money and Wahhabi indoctrinators cum preachers. And with the plentiful unemployed Pakistani youth, Taliban — or Students — were mass produced out of such madrasas. They were to take over weakened but unconquered Afghanistan, and put an end to the non-Afghani Al-Qaeda attempt to consolidate power after Soviets pulled out. And they succeed — just to create an on-going tribal civil war, and US seeing to it that every attempt at peace is squashed in its inception. Hence, the last assassination of Taliban leader who was on a mission to Iran, in a regional effort to cut a deal with US controlled government in Kabul.
This prompted Pakistan to push for end-game. Basically, Pakistan is off limits to anyone’s “fight against terrorism”. The change in Pakistan seems long-term and fundamental. Last year’s assent to the permanent seat of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, along with India –changed Pakistan’s perspective from the one that is West-centric to the one that is Asia-centric. Raising the fences would signify that it intends to claim the sovereignty over its territory as recognized by UN.
However, this is an opportunity for the Hillary-shaped State Department that has no recognizable functional delineation from CIA, to lit a flame between Afghanistan and Pakistan. And “suddenly” the fighting started. There is just couple of problems with this fight — it is not led by the official government in Kabul, but by the bordering Taliban tribes in Afghanistan. Who are they?
The clue is to be found in the very news that are consuming US. The father of the Orlando shooter is the political leader of Afghani tribes that object to Pakistani border, and claims that it is Afghanistan territory. He has been pictured leading protests at Pakistan embassy, with Afghanistan-American posters, urging action against Pakistan. He is a typical Chalabi-type CIA product, leading/funneling money to factions that are willing to fight Pakistan.
Now, it remains to be seen what happens next. Pakistan will only benefit from the consolidated public opinion, and the Asian countries will support its legitimate borders. As for Afghanistan — it will become clearer if the official Kabul supports the tribes that initiated the fight. Keeping in mind that Afghanistan is also an observer in SCO, and they are going to have their annual heads of states meeting by the end of the month in Uzbekistan. Taliban now has a new leader, and surprisingly he does not come with the warlord pedigree. It will also become clearer where the larger Taliban movement stands on Pakistan. What is very likely to happen is that Kabul government will have to make “concessions” to Taliban for peace. Translated, US will lose the power over Kabul government. As US is requesting hundreds of billions of dollars to stay in Afghanistan for the next ten years, it does appear that the collective Democratic-Republican neocon establishment intends to dig in the heels. But where, with whom, and against whom. As Pakistan is by far more interested in SCO initiative in quietly sorting out Pakistan-India issues, and is just as eager to capitalize on Gwadar port, and the huge economic corridor lining the port with China. It is also interested in Turkmenistan, Iran, Pakistan, and India gas pipeline, just as much as the north-south corridor connecting Moscow through Azerbaijan, Iran and Pakistan, on to Mumbai in India and terminating in Bangkok, Thailand. There are simply way to many rail, road, port, land-port, pipelines, etc. opportunities — for Pakistan to pass over. The permanent war footing was beneficial to Pakistani elites, but after the last of those clans was driven out of power, Pakistan’s elite is trying to change the country from one-industry country (proxy wars) into a country that is integrated with its Asian hinterland, and though it — to Russia and Europe to the West, and Russian Far East and China to the East.
There are now border wars exploding in just about EVERY country that is trying to distance itself from imperial games. Eritrea and Ethiopia, Azerbaijan and Armenian Nagorno-Karabakh, Pakistan-Afghanistan. Armenia and Azerbaijan smothered the conflict rather quickly, and I am sure that they by now know who and how provoked it. The attack came from Nagorno-Karabakh, and it is easy to conclude that it is a work of US-diaspora funded faction in the enclave that provoked the conflict in hope of it getting out of control. But it did not. Yerevan and Baku did not want it, and Russia stepped in to facilitate. In spite of Kerry’s attempt to insert himself into the situation. There is now a forum within SCO that provides quiet setting for crafting a permanent solution. It provides consultation with other members, as well as incentivizing both parties to compromise.
Hillary must now explain how did her handiwork in Syria end up in ISIS and Al-Qaeda working on destroying a legitimate state and its armed forces. And having to now ask Russia NOT to bomb Al-Qaeda as there are possibly some unidentified “rebels” in their ranks! There are — they are Saudi funded Army of Conquest. But Saudi Arabia just ditched its leader from the High Negotiating Committee on Russia’s request, and now, there is nobody in that group to block every motion. The group now consists of three opposition groups; the loyal opposition from Damascus, émigré opposition headquartered in Moscow, and émigré opposition supported by Saudi Arabia and US. With the leader who blocked all negotiations gone, it will be interesting to see what happens when the negotiations resume after Ramadan.