THE AFGHAN IMBROGLIO

Afghanistan is full of mountains, valleys, caves, tunnels etc. making transportation of troops very difficult.The resut is the absence of any centralised authority. Local war lords hold the sway in the country side.

Another factor is opium cultivation; perhaps nothing else grows there. People live by it. It is supplied to the whole world from Afghanistan. Rajasthan too contributes its share.

Earlier, the western powers went to war with China for obtaining permission to sell the same opium they purchased from the traders here, as it was banned in the whole of China, two hundred years  ago. The coastal towns were bombarded from the ships, until the Chineses allowed them to sell opium in China. This is known as gun boat diplomacy. Now they are reaping what they sowed. The narcotic mafia is doing brisk business in America, without firing a single shot!

During the nineteenth century, there were three Afghan wars, waged by The British colonialists, when their soldiers were murdered like cattle. In the end, they drew a line, the Durrand line , which divided the Pashtoons into two halves, one in Afghanistan, and the rest half in Pakistan. The Pashtoons were never aware of it.

Then, the Russians occupied that country for a long time, in the twentyeth century, through their proxy. For the people of Kabul, it was their golden period. Girls attended school. The whole area became Westernised, but the Americans did not like Russian influence. They supported the Taliban to defeat the Russians. But the monster took the country back to the feudal days, introducing purda for women and forbading girls from going to school.The bombardment of the huge figure of the Budha, in Bamyan was both tragic and senseless, but none bothered about it. The US woke up only when Taliban embraced the Al qaida.

Now, the last attack by the US in the twenty first century has begun. Apparently, nothing is learned from history. Russia is uncoquerable because of its size; Afghanistan is protected by its terrain. When the army comes, war lords will retreat. But how long can the occupation forces remain there?

Now, there is the real threat of the Al Qaida-Taliban-narcotic-maphia taking over the region. The rulers in the US, Russia, China, India and Pakistan will continue the war, because they themselves do not have to die; only the sons of poor workers and peasants die. Arms manufactorers will benefit, as also the contractors and politicians who can get bribe. The poor tax payers will have to foot the bill.