Peace, in Afghanistan, is subject to delay. Calm in Pakistan, is coveted. There is, however, cut-pieces, in between both these countries. To gratify ambiguity, the British designated these tribal parcels, along the Durand Line, as semi-autonomous. Successive administrations in Afghanistan, have seldom accepted this arbitrary 2500km line as an international border. Government of Pakistan (GoP) calls it: Federally Administered Agencies (FATA). In native Pakistani lingua franca, this area, collectively, is called: the alienland. On the map these agencies look like the shivers of a shattered mirror. Severally, they reflect their socio-economic paucity and sectarian tribal fault lines. Because of the ultra scarce resource base, personal vendettas and tribal feuds, have for centuries, been settled by sword or bullet. So many less to feed or compete for survival. Like very true Afghan tribal culture, they too, do not scale faith, facts or factors by any set scruples. It must be, for them, a rightful state of gratification, while it would seem cruel and callous to the semi-civilized mindset elsewhere.

For the past two millionia plus, this region has been the staging camp sites for the invaders, who very much wanted to plunder the fabled Indian prosperity. They were seldom considerate towards the native multitudes, that accorded them midway hospitalities. Over the generations, the Afghanis learnt to furnish them with meager hospitality for undue considerations. That is, if, the expedition returned successful and the invaders were loaded with the loot. Afghan behavior was totally hostile if the raiders were routed out. Lucky ones, those who survived, had to walk back to their homelands, because the Afghans deprived them of their swords, spears and stallions – in lieu of safe passage.

Sea faring Muslim Arabs, brought Islam to the Indian sub-continent. The environment was ripe for Muslims to take hold and Islam to flourish. Brahmins of Aryan origin, over the past centuries, had liquidated the socio-spiritual revolution of Lord Buddha. They instead, had introduced a cunningly crafted caste system, which guaranteed positions of power, strength and respect only to the Brahmins. The rest of the multitude was divided into subordinate segments for, soldiering, trading and peasantry. The natives were assigned to the lowest wrung menials chores and they were declared “untouchables”! Pristine Islam accorded equality to all of the same faith.

Brahmins were not ordained to fight and the traders, peasants were not trained to fight. Kashutries, the soldiers, were thus in short supply and Dalits were not willing to help. They would convert, achieve self-respect and rather join the invading squad. At least some of them, did but the majority could not break the age-old shackles. As a result 65% of them still live the same mould within the: Shining India!

Interestingly, Islam traveled to Afghanistan from South East. Since the Pukhtun tribes habitated on either side of the current geo-political divide, introduced by the British, much later. Islam was embraced by all other Afghans, with the ghusto of tribal rivalry.

During twilight of the 10th, and early decades of the 11th century Mahmud of Ghazni and his Muslim warriors remained willing, able and active to conduct raids across the mountain range to the plains of the mighty rivers. Since the Brahmins had stacked their temple domains with gilded gods, gold and other treasures, the raiders exactly knew their coveted destinations.

Mahmud of Ghazni conducted seventeen raids at rich treasure troves, including the famous Som Nath temple. There the idols were not gilded, they were of solid gold.

Afghans’ remote Turkic cousins from Farghana valley had different philosophy – in fact compulsions to conquer India and stay there for good or for bad. They were lead by a youthful commander named Zaheer ud Din Babar. He did exactly as planned during his stay, at base camp Kabul. Mughual-e-Azam Zaheer ud Din Babar, defeated the collective military might of the Indian Rajgan at Panipat during 1526 A.D. He and his heirs and successors ruled better part of India, till the British dethroned the last and lost Mughul emperor. In fact, they dragged the lithe monarch out of his palace fort, and then banished him to a prison in Rangoon. His name was

Bahadur Shah Zafar. Roughly translated it means: “The valiant and victorious king!” That, he was dragged by his legs, and his heirs were beheaded. That, their chopped heads, were sent to the deposed ruler – as left luggage! – is part of local history. While performing acts of state craft, such incidents are considered Kosher. Please permit to quote a recent footnote to the Middle East register.

Iraqis have a penchant for ruthless autocrats. Nuri As Said, was one such despot, as mentioned in immediate recent dispatches. He used to brag about omni-presence of his secret services, as thus: “If an individual Iraqi whispers something uncomplimentary about me, in the ears of his wife before retiring, rest assured, you would see his dead carcass hanging in the public park, by the dawn of the same night”.

Abdul Kareem Kasim overthrew Nuri in a bloody coup de’etat Nuri’s dead body was dragged behind a four-wheeler through the thoroughfares of Baghdad – with due diligence. A comrade of Kasim mentioned Nuri’s claim about the whisper claim, in a light mood. Abdul Karim had a prompt response: “That S.O.B didn’t realize that I was not married”.

Reverting back to the Afghan history it is recorded that the Afghan adventurers’ intrusions in India were seldom prolonged beyond the strategic durations. The last king of Afghanistan; though arranged and availed asylum in Italy for good many years.

In Pakistan, we all have become a chattering crowd. We are opinionated without reason or logic. This is the unique character, we readily adopt from our ruling generals and religious extremists. Being short of regular political class or cadre, we are rudderless. Our polities remains centred on persona not issues & policies.

Martial Law is the only law; this hapless nation had to suffer for better part of its existence. In turn, martial laws do have their own compulsions. They have to synthesize their own complimentary complements with the junta. A Yale trained economist, is on record that the first Martial Law in Pakistan created 22 families as economic cartel.

As a “nation” we do have sectarian militias and the so-called liberation “armies”.

The most recent and horrific phenomenon is the suicide squads. They are indiscrimate in targets and most devastating in affects.

The second Martial Law Administrator surrendered the majority part of Pakistan, to the Indian general Arora. 55,000 Pakistanis were captured and held as P.O.Ws as a war bounty.

The third one ruled for eleven years; invalidated the very foundations of Pakistan’s reason-de-etra and the Durand Line. What all else, he deprived, the country and the nation off, would fill in volumes in small print. His malignant legacy shall torture each and every Pakistani, for generations to come. One directly concerns the patriotic tax payers of United States and the duped citizens of Soviet Union, 9/11, Afghanistan, Talibans, AlQuaeda, are directly linked to his misrule in Pakistan. He and his cohorts squandered American furnished 26 billion dollars, in hard cash and hardware. Mercifully he was eliminated and incinerated in a C- 130 crash. The crash was so well choreographed that Pakistani nation shall remain in perpetual gratitude to the powers & persons – who conducted this act of mercy.

The fourth general is the one – who has recently resigned after almost nine years of “protected” rule. You might see and hear him on lucrative plus-extensive lecture circuit in USA and elsewhere.

Like his foremost predecessor’s Catch 22 will be his controversial legacy. The first one created a cartel of 22 families, this one, is responsible for Nouveau Force Majeure of 22 noted TV Channels’ Anchor-persons. Incidentally these very 22 anchors helped expedite his exit.

Pakistan is in a fiscal strait jacket. Food crisis, oil prices and electricity deficit, together have brought it to the brink of financial insolvency. Due to the law and order deteoration, foreign and local direct investment, has, in fact, taken the reverse flight. Arab sheikhs, had provided refuge and reconciliation factors during the past decade, to both the current principal political players of Pakistan. Flush with the windfall petro-dollars, Arabs are already being invited to pick up our national “silver” from the compulsive garage sale. Proven and productive terragas fields and power plants funding – at their terms – with lucrative returns, are humble offerings!

There is, however, a ray of hope from the United States. It is vice presidential hopeful, Senator Joe Biden’s realization of ground realities in Pakistan. He has expressed his opinion, that financial aid to Pakistan should not be equated or traded for the: Services rendered beyond the limit of capacity. (Not verbatim). US Senate Foreign Relations Committee has unanimously passed a Pakistan specific bail out legislation. This bill has been sponsored by Sen. Joe Bidden and Sen. Richard Lugar and hence carry’s the bi-partisan sanctity.

Unless, we at the receiving end, do not do something unpredictable or unacceptable, it would be passed. Hopefully, not before it is too late for us to avail.

The Afghanistan – Pakistan Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (ROZ) Act of 2008, is also in the pipeline. This lifeline legislation has been introduced by Congressman Chris Von Hollen in the House and Senator Maria Cantwell in the “Upper” House. Hopefully the help would soon be on its way, before it is too late for the donors or the recipients?

The rosy pictures of realization of ROZs have been painted in bright colors, at least, on the Pakistani side of the Durand Line – for quite sometime.

A pro-active general, who had helped Gen. ® Musharraf’s take over in 1999, was rewarded to be the governor of the troubled province of N.W.F.P. Federally Administered Tribal Agencies’ (FATA) control comes with the office, because the office of the governor represents the Federal government. This governor had an added extra qualification. He himself, belonged to a Fata tribe, bang on the banks of the border, at the leewind side of Koh-i-Sufeid. He was very keen to deliver something visible – not concrete. Being over anxious to be mentioned in the dispatches, he jumped the proverbial gun. He signed a reconciliation compact with the volatile tribe, before the realization of Reconstruction Opportunity Zones These tribesman are quite a few steps ahead of the Arab custom. Their trust in God is highly enhanced, if they have fat wads of “promissory notes” with the same declaration printed on the green side.

Since the governor committed the said excess on the limitation of his jurisdiction, just before the planned visit of President Gen. Musharraf to Washington D.C., he too was summoned to explain his extravaganza. He did, but failed to convince the Occidentals.

Belated ROZs are being held in abeyance, while the Flowers of Fire are being dropped, on the “suspected terrorists” hide outs in Fata. Unfortunately the women and children do not escape the wrath of collateral casualties! (Maybe continued)