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Beyond enmity: The need for strategic alliance between Afghanistan and Pakistan
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The leaders of the United States, Pakistan and Afghanistan on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
Yesterday at the White House the flags of Pakistan, Afghanistan and the United States flew side by side. In the foreground, the leaders of the nations those flags represent, stood arm by arm. The scene was one of solidarity. It was a scene of three nations determined to unite to battle a common foe. It was carefully orchestrated. While this scene unfolded, the Pakistani military battled Taliban forces close to its capital and Afghani villagers buried their dead following a US airstrike gone sadly awry the previous day.
The Obama Administration has recognized an important strategic reality in the fight against al-Qaeda and their Taliban allies. Unless Pakistan and Afghanistan act in concert to confront their common enemy, there is little chance of success for all concerned parties. With this recognition emerges a new set of challenges. Pakistan and Afghanistan share a mutual enmity and suspicion making cooperation unlikely.
Wednesday’s meeting was certainly a positive development for those who observe the conflicts raging in Afghanistan and Pakistan. But it is also a development that must be viewed with skepticism. For even if Hamid Karzai and Asif Ali Zardari found common ground under Mr. Obama’s watchful eye, their ability to alter the facts on the ground in their respective countries remains negligible. Mr. Karzai’s reach outside Kabul is short. In Pakistan, while the United States was donating billions of dollars in defense aid, their leaders were using the funds to build a military prepared to fight a possible war with India, a military that would have difficulty with counter-insurgency operations. Add to that the historical relationship between Pakistani security services and the Taliban and hope deteriorates justly.
In short, suspect allegiances both within and between factions in Afghanistan and Pakistan hinder potential collaboration. The United States risks committing significantly more resources in Afghanistan only to watch as the targets of those resources flee to sanctuaries in Pakistan. Pakistan seems unable and unwilling to provide the counter-resistance necessary for the success of US strategy in Afghanistan. Perhaps as Islamabad becomes increasingly threatened by Taliban forces the government, and Pakistanis themselves, will find the will to confront the threat. Should this reality emerge, the Obama Administration must be willing to act decisively lest they risk squandering an opportunity that has, until present, failed to manifest. Either way, the rhetoric that emerged from Wednesday’s meeting does little to affect the conflicts both within and between Afghanistan and Pakistan. The difficulty for the Obama Administration will be in ensuring rhetoric yields action.
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