The article by Farrukh Hussain, titled “Afghans are no Outsiders to the Lands of Modern-Day Pakistan,” adds a different perspective. Hussain glorifies the historical role of Afghans and criticizes the army leadership, PM Kakar, and Interior Minister Sarfaraz Bugti, omitting crucial factors such as Afghan ingratitude, Soviet and Western forces’ barbarism, and the destabilizing role of external powers.
Pakistan has recently taken a strong stance against its northwestern neighbor by ordering the expulsion of illegal Afghanis who have been residing in Pakistan for over 40 years. Despite this move, the interim government faces criticism, with concerns raised about the potential negative outcomes for the country. Some argue that if Afghanistan maintains good relations with other neighbors, India, Middle Eastern Muslim countries, and other Muslim nations, the strained relationship with Pakistan must be due to faulty policies on the part of Islamabad.
Historically, Afghan rulers propagated the idea that regions like NWFP, FATA, and Pashtun-heavy parts of Baluchistan were part of Afghanistan. Some political and religious parties in Pakistan, as well as India, supported the Pakhtunistan movement. This hostility led to waves of Baloch insurgents seeking independence finding refuge in Kabul, with insurgencies actively supported.
