Afghan Issue - Mir Ghaus Bakhsh Bizenjo addressing All Parties Conference (1988)

Honorable Prime Minister!

It is really amusing to see that you have revived an old but forgotten democratic practice of consulting national parties in opposition. Obviously it wasn't an easy decision for the opposition to attend this conference and we are even not really delighted to be here, but when we are here I seek your permission to elaborate the purpose of us all. We want to attempt along with you for the development of peace & stability in our country and region.

Before I speak on the actual topic, I would like to concisely direct your attention towards a very important and urgent matter. In my opinion, the most severe problem being faced by our country is the issue of nations dwelling in Pakistan, which is impelling the sovereignty and stability of this country. This issue has attained such harshness that our youth is openly stating that they do not see a future in this country and they don’t want to live with Pakistan. You all live in this country and hear all sorts of ridiculous slogans, slogans of sindhudesh, slogans of independent Balochistan, slogans of independent pakhtunkhwa and etc. Such slogans are not being elevated out of leisure but are a consequence of regularly overlooked and thoughtless strategies adopted by our rulers for past 40 years, and as a result of which, Sindh, Balochistan and Frontier have been forced to probe if they have any future in this country of not. Even if I agree with you that such slogans are of extremist nature and in result of false accusations, ignoring them like this will also be unwise and contrary to the realistic situation. What we observe of it is an expression of profound sense of preclusion provoked by insolent attitude and brutal strategies of our rulers. I do not agree with the point that Bangladesh is an outcome of Indian interference, but imprudent approaches of our rulers provoked the Bangalis to extend invitation to India, which it accepted. If current conditions of the country stay as it is, the disappointed people specially the youth won’t seek direction of those with customary doctrine such as us. Let me state it openly here that if we fail to resolve this issue, the consequences will be far vicious then the Afghan issue, for the sovereignty and autonomy of Pakistan, therefore respected prime minister! I request you to call a conference on this issue, and request you to invite the opposition and government to sit together and exchange views openly for the resolution of burning issue of the rights of nations and as a start at least implement MRD’s joint resolution of Lahore. I am not amongst those who make extreme demands and I never support such actions that weaken the country or break it in parts, but I would like to state one thing openly and clearly that I am also not amongst those who do not contest against the efforts of enslaving historically dwelling nations in this country. Therefore I once again request you to help the country stage out of disappointments, disarray and terrorism. Let us do our part to ensure the sovereignty of Pakistan and unity and harmony of its people.

Coming towards the issue of Afghanistan, it’s grim indeed that our rulers have tangled Pakistan in to Afghan clash; I say this because it wasn’t at all inevitable for the better welfare of Pakistan. When General Zia ul Haq and his government decided to indulge Pakistan in this bog, I was amongst those who warned of its consequences. The basis of our opinion was as follows:

Afghanistan has recently seen a revolution. The people in Afghanistan have changed their government. It is entirely their internal problem that we shall not be bothered about. Why are our generals unnecessarily worried about it? We our self-have replaced the Government in Pakistan several times, a civilian government one day and military rule the other, and then followed by a semi-military or semi-civilian government, has anyone asked us or have we ever permitted anyone to ask why it’s so? Afghanistan has gone through a transformation; it is entirely matter of Afghans which shall not be of concern to us. Let me also remind its historical aspect that Afghanistan and Iran, the two buffer states between the Russian and British Empire, got out of the conflict with Iran’s Islamic and Afghanistan’s National Democratic Revolutions, dramatically changing the entire regional situation. The two nations stepped out of the sway of Western power leaving no other option for America then to struggle for independent grips in Indian Ocean, Persian Gulf, central, western and eastern Asia, to safeguard its perceived or concealed interests. The states of Arab Kings or Sheikhs were not capable of serving this requirement. Take a look at the regional situation; the interests of World’s four major powers are affianced at one place; China, Russia and India being geographical close to Afghanistan and America with its interests and naval and strategic presence. In this situation America had to formulate a strategy to ensure its presence or dominant representation in region. America began by trying to replace the impartial Government of Zahir Shah, with help from his son-in-law and Abdul Wali the son of Shah wali, with a dependent government, but the plan failed when Sardar Dawood with the support

of “Khalq Party” took control of the government. America wasn’t ready to step aside and began trying to avail Sardar Dawood’s cooperation. Sardar Dawood visited Iran, then Saudi Arabia and finally Pakistan. When he reached back he was ready to get rid of those with whose help Sardar came in power. The plan started to unfold when Mir Akbar Khebar, the leader of “Khalq Party” was brutally murdered. This was followed by copious arrests of members and leadership of Khalq Party. There was a rumor that the entire party will be swept clean. The members of Khalq Party in the army had to step up to defend its party. They organized a revolution and took over the government, during which Sardar Dawood was killed. There was no foreign hand including that of Russia, involved in this internal conflict. Numerous afghans who started migrating was not the result of any foreign intervention in Afghanistan. Afghans were being harassed by people operating in Afghanistan from our territory. Along with robbing the public they also started threatening them of worst consequences if they don’t migrate to Pakistan. The new government of Afghanistan lacked the capability to protect its people and they were left with no other option than to migrate to Pakistan and with the passage of time when in state of war, the Afghan government started bombing the so-called Mujahidins on the bordering areas, millions of immigrants fled towards Pakistan. Russian army dint pushed them into Pakistan, in fact they were pulled into Pakistan under a strategic scheme to use them as martyrs against Afghanistan and Russia. Much can be debated on this, but the fact is that today presence of millions of Afghans on our native land is creating numerous problems for us. Each and every segment of life has been effected by this, including politics, economy, social and cultural norms. Dangerous arms & ammunitions along with their fanatic components have spread across every corner of this country. Drugs and cocaine have destroyed the society so badly that discipline has become a thing of past, people have been permanently exposed to the sense of lack of security. This is rescinding the roots of Pakistani society, and hence we imposed on us this punitive situation the day we decided to infringe in Afghan issue. But now after worst circumstances, things have started to move towards betterment. Now on this occasion if we try to disrupt this process by obstructing extraction of Russian army from Afghanistan, non-other than us shall be held responsible for the consequences. Then only Pakistan rather than Afghan refugees or mujahidin will be accused for the spread of this unannounced war.

Till now we have been giving the excuse that though we have been severely effected but we don’t have any active role in it, but now if we hinder the return of Russian army we will not be able to protect this war from entering Pakistani territory. This will not only distress the stability of Pakistan but will disturb the entire region. Even countries such as India who have stayed away from this issue will be dragged in the disturbance. The entire subcontinent will fall under this disruption. It is barely imaginable that Pakistan will put at stake its interests just to safeguard the interests of America in this region. We cannot risk the existence of our country for the sake of America. Let me warn here that if conditions arise such as this, they don’t just change the environments but also render geographical changes and with context to the existing internal conflicts and problems in Pakistan, you can well imagine our possibilities in this situation. Therefore it is strongly submitted that Pakistan shall firmly adhere to an unbiased strategy and shall refrain from embracing astigmatic and indoctrinated strategies that benefit only the others. You may still recall the consequences of astigmatic strategies that turned East Pakistan into Bangladesh, if we still continue with the same mistakes by willfully ignoring the ground facts and take another such step, it’s quite possible that we will have to suffer far devastating and damaging consequences then 1971. We don’t have any hostilities against Afghanistan or Russia, but our immediate concern is how to ensure the return of Afghan refugees. We are not concerned which government the Afghan’s choose for them, either it be an interim government, a coalition or a national government. What we are concerned with is the safe return of Afghan refugees from Pakistan. Neither Afghanistan nor Russia has shaped any disruption in the return of these refugees. We don’t have any justification to refuse signing Geneva accord by imposing our conditions. By doing so we are only obstructing the return of refugees to their homeland. After signing the accord we will have the right to ask for the return of Afghan refugees if the Afghan government tries to obstruct their return, but we are lost in the fog of delusions. We are imagining that Russia has been defeated and Dr. Najib has lost his influence.

Please step out of this falsehood. No one has conquered Afghanistan to dictate their conditions for reconciliation. Russia is leaving Afghanistan for its own necessities and in response to the international plea. Neither your power nor the power of mujahidin has forced it out.

One of my friends Mr Qazi Hussain Ahmed has gone so far to say that we are not the hunting dogs that will hand the hunted to anyone else. What is this? For God’s sake please explain who the hunter is and who is the hunted. Poor helpless refugees are themselves in trouble, who can’t even return back to their homes, what makes you think that Russia has been defeated or hunted? And then you even say that Afghan government doesn’t has any say over more than 20% of Afghanistan. Being a close neighbor of Afghanistan I do have some information regarding Afghan Revolution. When in past has any government had a hold over entire Afghanistan? Afghanistan has always been a large state like Kalat State. You can travel for hundreds and miles and couldn’t find police or any conventional instrument of government system. You cant see any sign of Government anywhere. Same is with Afghanistan, Government’s hold is limited to a few major cities like Kabul, Kandhar, Herat, Mizar Shareef or at most Lugman and other similar centers, apart from this the remaining tribal parts in context of their historical backwardness and conservativeness, have always been without any conventional system of government. If such areas of Afghanistan can be considered independent than there are many similar areas in Balochistan that can also be considered independent as Government of Pakistan has no practical existence in such areas. Does it depict a serious attitude? Can someone in his due consciousness claim that the areas of Balochistan where government machinery doesn’t exist do not fall under Pakistan’s domain?

Dear friends! No one has occupied even an inch of Afghanistan. Those who claim to have conquered 80% of Afghanistan might have occupied Khost for some time but that even was reclaimed by Afghan government, apart from this which area is under their rule? None! All such claims are worthless. Therefore we state that now when a probable resolution is apparent we shall abstain from distressing as to the kind of possible government. All conditions pertaining to the 4 documents of Geneva accord have been fulfilled including the document of time frame for the return of Soviet army. We shall also sign the agreement and after the signing we shall start negotiating with the Afghan government for the return of Afghan immigrants, in which we shall state that they should arrange a camp here for this purpose and shall facilitate as necessary. This is all that is left to do now.

Honorable Prime Minister! I would like to bring it in your attention that it shall be ensured that these immigrants should be evacuated under the supervision of army, as the villages that are located in their way are prone to the hazard of robbery and other harms. It shall be ensured that the immigrants should return to their homes with harmony and peace without distressing their relation with the native population. There is no cause or validation left to drag this question further. We cannot let anyone upset the interests of Pakistan for the sake of Afghan immigrants or America. Our core focus shall be the welfare of Pakistan. It would be in vain to argue whether we accept Afghan government or not, who have we signed Geneva accord with. We have our embassies in Afghanistan, and so do they in Pakistan, what else is acceptance? You have accepted Afghan government; all countries of the world have accepted the Afghan government and conduct their matters with them. You will complicate things further if you indulge in the argument of evidence of its legal existence. If such an issue arises it will become very problematic for us to prove the legal position of our own government, so let’s just put this issue aside. At the moment Najib Ullah’s government is the government of Afghanistan. You state that immigrants and mujahedeen shall also be included as party to the Geneva accord but in which capacity? Can I inquire as to their status? Are they the government of Afghanistan? Does anyone even considers them as government of Afghanistan? Merely saying that we do not accept Najib’s government is not a sufficient argument. If you have accepted it then sign the Geneva accord and initiate dialogue with Afghan government for the return of Afghan immigrants.

Please do not hinder the return of Soviet army from Afghanistan and return of Afghan immigrants and mujahedeen from Pakistan, who will become an incredibly enormous concern for Pakistan in the future. The game being played by these mujahedeen and their brave master America will bring destructive consequences for the future of not only Pakistan but the entire region.