TALIBAN A CAUSE OF ANXIETY || BHUSHAN PARIMOO || LIVE IMAGE ~ LIVE IMAGE

Observing the manner swift return to power in Afghanistan for the second time after 20 years by the Taliban . Has thrown its neighbours into confusion how to adjust to a shifting geopolitical scenario. Afghanistan is situated at the crossroads of Central and South Asia, a spot of geo-strategic power play. It has witnessed the most fierce power games between the British and Russian Empires over neighbouring territories in Central and South Asia .

At present except for India it has workable mutual relations with its all other neighbours ,such as Iran ,Turkmenistan , Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, China and Pakistan .Besides the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, consisting of 57 member states, has every reason to give it tacit support. Taliban claims that Pakistan is their brother and second home. About 2.7 million refugees have been living in Pakistan for decades; some of them were born here. It is an admitted fact but for Pakistan Taliban’s would have not been where they are once again today.

Mere word Taliban evokes and spreads fear across the world, a dreaded Islamic outfit that carries forward their own scheme of things. Although the word Taliban means the students in Pashto, widely spoken in Afghanistan, parts of Pakistan and Iran . That binds it and evokes sympathy among Pasto speaking people; there lies its strength.

Obviously New Delhi has been put in a tough strategic stage receiving disturbing at the time confusing signals. A matter of great concern, that has increased the anxiety moments over the horizon of Kashmir valley. One should be conscious of the fact that India has a 160 miles border with Afghanistan, that runs along Gilgit-Baltistan, in the Jammu and Kashmir State, with the Wakhan Corridor. That is a narrow strip of land like a pointing finger, bordered by Tajikistan ,Pakistan , Jammu and Kashmir, until it reaches China. The Upper Wakhanin the eastern extremity of it is known as the Pamir Knot, where the Himalayas, Tian Shan, Karakoram, Kunlun, and Hindu Kush ranges meet.

The state of Jammu, Kashmir, Ladakh hey Tibet at the time of withdrawal by the British of its paramountcy over the Indian subcontinent was a vast empire in North India spanning over 86 thousand sq miles, nearly half of which lies under illegal occupation of China and Pakistan since then . It had borders with Afghanistan, U.S.S.R,the Uygur Autonomous Region of Xinjiang to the northeast and the Tibet Autonomous Region to the east (both parts of China), Himachal Pradesh , Punjab and Pakistan.

Though the State now stands technically torn apart yet strategic still has to be considered one unit. Gilgit Baltistan, is under illegal occupation of Pakistan while it’s the trans-Karakoram tract is with China. It should not be hard to comprehend in general the implications of the Taliban factor. Who now holds free access anywhere wherever it desires in the territory that is on the other side of the LOC/LAC with Pakistan and China respectively.

Taliban has emerged as the third player in this sector, with a large stockpile of seized arms and ammunition airplanes, tanks and artillery . Moreover its strategy is that others have watches they have time, borrowed from Wakhan Corridor Inhabitants may add Chinese Communits warfare practices, when enemy is at rest prick him, when advance draw back and when withdrawing hit hard. Those who know the history of the State, with its geography and the military expeditions are fully aware of what it means.

Indians know Afghanistan through the story Kabuliwala by Rabindranath Tagore of 1891 . A Nation, with brave hearted people and reliable too. They love India , through Bollywood pictures. Now the Taliban, traditionally an anti-India group, could once again emerge as a regional terrorist haven. Keep in mind that last time the Taliban were in power, they sheltered pro-Pakistani militants, gave free rein to a host of anti-Indian terrorist organizations within Afghanistan, most notably Jaish-e-Mohammed (Je M) and Lashkar-e-Taiba allowed these organizations to regroup, train, running insurgency.

Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin said, "I pray to Allah that he strengthens the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan so that they may support Kashmiris against India. Al-Qaeda in a message congratulating the Taliban for its victory in Afghanistan called for the “liberation” of Kashmir and other so-called Islamic lands from the “clutches of the enemies of Islam” .

Kashmir American Council in the United States which carries active lobbying on behalf of Kashmiri Separatists has a number of units as said in England, Europe and other sympathetic countries. A large number of Volunteers from these organisations, belonging to both sides of the Jammu and Kashmir, have been taking active part in the fighting along with the Taliban. Some of them got killed while fighting those who survived returned, a fastened relation with death and casualties rather than lip sympathy.

In the Kashmir insurgency, foreign origin, mainly Afghan mujahideens and Pakistani Punjabis took part. It is said that by 1993 alone, nearly 400 Afghan mujahideen of Hezb-e-Islami of Afghan warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar were present in Kashmir Valley, a number which increased subsequently. . New Delhi is concerned that an emboldened Pakistan will use this as an opportunity to hit India.

Afghanistan once ruled Kashmir for 66 years from 1752 to 1819 A.D. Those interested to comprehend the situation should read, exploits of Sikh regime after the defeat of Afghans in Kashmir, and thereafter the Dogras. Every battle, bordering Afghanistan, Gilgit, Nagar Haveli, Hunza, Chitral has to be analysed in detail to know about the Gilgit baltistan belt. That shall give a reader an inkling how vulnerable our borders are in this sector from all sides.

The response from the authorities with regard to looming dangers from the Taliban on its borders are reassuring one but at the same time contrary to the officers who have served in that front. General Bipin Rawat Chief of the Defence Staff asserted that any possible terrorist activity flowing out of Taliban controlled Afghanistan and finding its way into India will be dealt with firmly . Defence Minister Sh Rajnath Singh said that the center is alert and capable of dealing with any situation arising out of Afgahan crisis further adding that India will not hesitate in carrying out its operation from the soil of other country to fight terrorism.

As a citezen one has to believe word to word his assertations. At the same time one cannot afford to ignore the observations on the latest development that has come the other day from the Gen (rtd ) Shanker Roy Chowdhry who has been a part of the 1965 and 1971 wars said that we have to understand that the Taliban victory in Afghanistan , is seen a victory Pakistan ad defeat for India. We have to organize ourselves to fresh attacks by elements like Jaish-e- Mohammad.We have to prepare for the designs of Pakistan in support of radical elements here. We have to increase outreach to kashmiris,we have to assure them that India will remain a secular democracy.

Former Northern Army General B.S. Jaswal (rtd ) has his views based on his experiences that India should stay prepared for terror spill over from Afghanistan via Pakistan.Earlier way back on 16 September 2016, General Shanker Roy Chowdhry, told in a interview on NDTV reflecting the rage in the Military Brass over an extremist attack in north kashmirs Uri that killed 17 soldiers, India should form its own ' Fidayeen ' ( suicide ) squad.

Those who have gone through the elementy military history on this sector right from the Afghan rule over Kashmir, Sikh, Dogra exploits and post Independence wars be it be 1947, 1962, 1965, 1971, Kargil War, present ongoing skirmishes on with Pakistan and with China.One has to be conscious of the fact India has long borders with it enemies . Which requires vigil from land, sea and Sky.

These days a worrisome factor has emerged slowly but steadily that the Indian Army, the finest force in the world, instead maintaining its tradition of being a non-political and secular force has been politicised .At the same time public response in the National cause found wanting , it reminds whole nation came forward during 1962 war gave gold and promised blood . This writer witnessed from the close quarters the wars of 1962, 65, 71, Kargil about 1947 -48 heard from elders , present border skirmishes are a regular feature.

Day after day public concern is more on political events than of being a second defense of the borders. During Feedyaan crossover, we burn effigies, tires or block the roads, raking up the religious issues. That is not how to face the situation, it helps them to be in the news. New Delhi has to take into confidence the people behind the lines. Unfortunately a soldier is facing the front and at the same time has to assure the supply line that plays a pivotal role in any war .It is well said Put our soldiers where we need them the most.

It is the people in the theatre of insurgency, as in the state, who have been assisting with counter-insurgence .Together it has kept at bay the nefarious designs from across the borders. Needless to add people want peace and tranquility, and at the same time assurances under the democratic framework.Every one is conscious of the fact, here that besides the Army it is the locals who have to face the burnt of the misadventures, far worse than it is reeling under now .

Those at Delhi or the rest of the country, just form opinions as paid media feeds but in reality it is the wearer who knows where shoe hurts and how much others only see limp.That makes us worry.