7/1/2016 WhatHappensinTorkhamStaysinTorkhamAlternativePerspectives

Thursday, June 30, 2016 Latest: What Happens in Torkham Stays in Torkham
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What Happens in Torkham Stays in Torkham

June 28, 2016 32 Views 0 Comment afghanistan, history, Pakistan, society

By Dr. Kalim Ullah

The emotions run high and the ares continue at Torkham, a border town located on both sides of
the Durand line that separates Pakistan from Afghanistan. Torkham is a town in the legendary

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Khyber Pass which is witness to a lot of tales and is a popular subject of folk songs; it is a strategically
important route used for trade and links between Pashtuns on either side of the Durand Line. In
other words, it has provided a bond between Kabul and Peshawar for many centuries. Durand line,
however, is a controversial 2430 kilometers long Afghanistan-Pakistan border drawn by British
colonial rulers of the subcontinent under their Divide and Rule policy.

Last week, Torkham was under siege and tension hiked between Pakistani and Afghan forces which
led to heavy casualties and fatalities on both sides. This confrontation of Pakistani and Afghan forces
had a reason: the plans of Pakistan to erect a fence on Durand line and construction of gate at
Torkham border. Pakistani civil and military ocials portray these plans as a defensive mechanism
against militants. Afghanistan, on the other hand, considers it as an intrusion because Afghans dont
reckon Durand line as a regular border and consider it a disputed line drawn through Afghanistan.

The history of this Afghans stance resonated even in Pakistan-backed Taliban regime. It is frequently
called devil line by Pashtuns due to the fact that it has separated Pashtuns and has remained a major
reason for Great Game in this region. According to Pakistani ocials, erecting a fence on the border
and a gate at Torkham will limit the entry of insurgents into Pakistan. To support this proposition,
they claim that those who attacked Bacha Khan University crossed the line at Torkham.

On the Afghan side, they consider this a reaction to the death of Mullah Mansour in Pakistan by a US
drone strike and Afghanistans growing ties with India is also worrisome for Pakistans establishment.
They also suppose that Modis recent visits to Afghanistan and Iran further fueled the re of enmity
and in rush, Pakistan came with these plans. This crisis also coincides with the enigmatic statement of
Pakistani military ocials to handover Angor Ada check post to afghan authorities located in South
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Waziristan which was promptly disowned by Pakistani interior minister, Chaudhry Nisar and later on
by Adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Aairs Sartaj Aziz. This incident showed paradoxical stance
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and a ssure between Pakistani civil and military in mutual communications and decisions making.
After this clash, the disputes like Angora Ada will have a hazy future.

It is totally absurd that by constructing a fence and a gate on border will shrink the number of
militants inux in Pakistan after contemplating on both views because this border is 2430 kilometers
long and Taliban militants rarely use the assigned points of exchange on border for their movement.
On the other hand, these spots are used by citizens of both countries, mostly Afghan citizens who
cross Torkham border, usually come for medical treatment in Peshawar and trucks crew members
who carry goods to Afghanistan under Afghan Transit Trade. Due to these tensions between two
countries, the poor patients and the crew members are stuck at the border and suer a lot.

Both for Pakistan and Afghanistan, it is an uphill struggle to identify a militant because militancy is
highly pronounced in Pashtun belt on both sides. Pashtuns from both sides, share the same facial
features, language, religion, customs, style and traditions. For instance, a Pashtun from Pakistan can
easily intermingle with Pashtuns of Afghanistan and no one will be able to tell the dierence. This
situation has always fueled the blazes of war and combusted the whole region. Afghan Taliban

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presence in Pakistan proves this theory.

The history also reveals that soon after the demarcation of Durand Line in 1893, skirmishes and
unrest marred the region. It was soon followed by Afridis up rising against the British Raj and
eventually ignited the 3rd Anglo Afghan war. After independence of subcontinent, the Durand Line
was a core issue of conict between Afghanistan and newly born Pakistan and their relations
deteriorated soon thereafter. This tepid dispute got momentum in Sardar Dawoods regime in
Afghanistan and Zulqar Ali Bhuttos government in Pakistan in the early 1970s. Some prominent
names such as Burhan Uddin Rabbani, Ahmad Shah Masoud, Gulbuddin Hikmatyar and others
emerged who were later recruited to counter afghan governments policy of backing Pashtun
nationalists. These Jihadi assets were used by Pakistani and US authorities against the Afghan
communist regime and USSR after the Saur revolution, which brought death and destruction for
Afghanistan and especially for the Pashtun belt which continues till date. In all these conicts, Durand
Line played a pivotal role and is responsible for massacre of hundred of thousands of lives and rightly
deserves the name of Devil Line.

History candidly refutes the fact that raising fences and gates will help no one in stopping insurgents
and decreasing militancy on both sides until and unless the fate of this line is not resolved. The US-
Mexico border is a prime example of border management.

Afghan government is practically quiescent regarding this issue, even though, their verbal hostility is
very pronounced. If Afghan government regards this issue disputed then the easy way is to create
their internal consensus through parliament and referendum and they should take this issue to
United Nation rather than blazing cold war on both side.
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However, I feel the Afghan government is in a conundrum from inception regarding the history and
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structure
of the Durand line treaty because now they blame their internal turmoil for their apathy
towards this issue but what did refrain them till 1979 when Afghanistan was politically and
economically stable?

History reveals that Amir Abdur Rehman (Afghan King at the time of the Durand Line treaty) was
happy with this treaty, expressed gratitude to God, eulogized British government in India and
immediately started securing his border; Abdur Rahman Khan swiftly subdued the Nuristanis and
converted them to Islam. The successor of Abdur Rehman Khan, Amir Habib Ullah Khan also pledged
the British Raj that he will respect this treaty.

Walls and gates will never bring peace to this region but will bring more wars and another chapter of
bloodbath because the enemy is always known unknown who cannot be stopped by such ill-
conceived plans. Presently, Pakistan is facing global alienation and this conict has shattered the
dreams of strategic depth or fth province while Afghanistan is rejoicing new foreign bonds.
However, the hammer stroke of these conicts will fall the hardest on Pashtuns on both sides as
usual and consequently, will bring another war which will last till our complete devastation.

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Pashtuns have to emphasize on their survival and need to come out of the Cold War mentality. Every
war in their home will make them victims of terrorism and convert them to IDPs.

Our enemy is the one who entice us to paint our hands with blood. A possible short term solution is
eradication of poverty and illiteracy in Pashtun belt, positive changes in attitudes, awareness,
determination against extremism, leaving rhetoric of good/bad Taliban and strong commitment to
avoid use of their soil against one another may break the wrath of extremism. But after examining
intentions and positions on both sides, hoping so is like Alice in Wonderland. The truth will still
remain untarnished that in the presence of this line, this region will remain a center of proxies,
instability and a safe haven for the known unknown enemy and we shall witness many Torkham like
bloody engagements.

While writing these lines, the good news is that Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed on a cease re
which is a good omen for Pashtuns of both side. The hope is that the tensions go away and what
happensin Torkham staysin Torkham!

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Dr. Kalim Ullah

The author is a physician by training and working as a lecturer at a medical college in
Peshawar.

kalim has 1 posts and counting.

See all posts by kalim

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