Effect of situation in Pakistan on the security of India

1. India’s security in relation to Pathan warriors

1A. The Pathans of Pashtunistan want freedom from Pakistan and want to form an independent country : Pathans are one of the largest minority ethnic groups in Pashtunistan, which shares its land with Pakistan and Afghanistan. These Pathans are calling for freedom from Pakistan to form an independent country for themselves. It is important to understand the effect of the birth of Pashtunistan on India’s security situation. The Pathans of Pashtunistan are known to be fierce fighters who have invaded 3 most powerful countries of the world in the last 100 years. Great Britain lost the wars against Afghanistan, after trying to defeat them 4 times in the 19th century. People believed that the sun never sets over the British empire, however, the Pathans proved them wrong.

1B. Using Pathani warfare for defeating all : The second most powerful country in the world, Soviet Union decided to sign a peace treaty and withdraw its troops from Afghanistan after trying to invade Afghanistan for several years during the 1980s. After the 9/11 attacks in USA, the most powerful country in the world, the US invaded Afghanistan to remove the Talibani regime and capture Al-Qaeda forces. However, they also chose to withdraw their military operations and retreat from Afghanistan. Both these superpowers could not harm Afghanistan in their attempt to invade this country. These Pathans have vast experience in fighting a war against many countries and defeating them.

2. The Peshwas hoisted their flag in the area of the Pathans, who had been undefeated by the global superpowers

The world map shows a point below the Khyber Pass is Attock. During the rule of Marathas in Maharashtra, Raghoba Dada Peshwa hoisted the Maratha flag along the Khyber Pass. No global superpower of those days was able to accomplish this task. Why did the Peshwas go that far ? India was being invaded for over hundred years by Mahmud of Ghazni, Muhammad Ghori, and many others. They entered Bharat through the Khyber Pass. The Marathas defeated the Pathans and took over the Khyber Pass. We could have marched forward to regain control beyond the Khyber Pass, but we were defeated in the battle of Panipat fought between the Marathas and Ahmad Shah Abdali’s army. However, the attacks originating from the Khyber Pass stopped completely. These Pathans, are now going against Pakistan.

3. Refusal of Pathans to fight for Pakistan in Kashmir

The Pathan warriors are moving against Pakistan. This could destabilise Pakistan’s military and make the situation worse for Pakistan. When Pakistan needed warriors to support their terrorist activities in Kashmir, they used the Pathans to fight for them in Kashmir because their soldiers coming from parts of Punjab or Sindh lack such fighting spirit. Now, these Pathan warriors are refusing to sacrifice their lives in supporting Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in Kashmir.

4. Pakistan now on its back-foot

Pakistan needs constant supply of trained militant groups to fan insurgency in Kashmir. However, they are falling short now. The Pashtunistan independence movement is in the interests of India. Sindh and Balochistan have also joined hands to fight for their independence from Pakistan. Former Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif is planning to return to Pakistan. His daughter Maryam has joined the party led by Benazir Bhutto. Both their parties strongly oppose Prime Minister Imran Khan and the Pakistani army.

This situation has put Pakistan on its back-foot and resulted in political and economic instability in Pakistan.

– (Retd.) Brigadier Hemant Mahajan, Pune