Afghans still revere Pakistan’s hospitality

Despite spiraling tension between Islamabad and Kabul, the common Afghan citizen at Kabul and other parts of the war-stricken country, not only respect Pakistan and its people but is also desirous to have cordial, friendly and trustworthy relations between the two neighbours. “Irrespective of government policies, we can’t forget the unprecedented hospitality of Pakistan and its people,” remarked Mohammad Yaseen Sangar, a local tribal leader at Kabul. In fact, Sangar, while waiting to meet an Afghan politico-spiritual elder at the latter’s residence in Kabul, opened his heart after coming to know that next to him sat a Pakistani national. Sangar belongs to Central Bameyan province of Afghanistan, and was amongst the millions of Afghans who abandoned their home country after the invasion of former Soviet troops in 1979, and migrated to Pakistan. While narrating the tale of his stay of over two and half a decades in Pakistan, Sangar was unable to keep his tears at bay. He stayed in Sardar Ahmad Jan Colony Charsadda Road, Chirat and Warsak Road, Peshawar. “During this long tenure, I felt Pakistan was just like my native country,” he said, “and my most golden days were in Sattar Shah Bacha Colony Peshawar where I made friends like late Amir Hamza Baba Shinwari, late singer Rafique Shinwari and Kheyal Mohammad. He said that he and his family members were in contact with their Pakistani friends and neighbours through telephone since their repatriation to homeland in 2002. Several other Afghans expressed similar sentiments, praising Pakistan and its people for extending help to them in a critical stage. “It was only Pakistan and its people, who opened their gates for Afghans when over 100,000 Soviet troops landed in Kabul and other main cities and towns,” remarked a senior Afghan politician. The politician is counted amongst friends of Pakistan and he believes that Pakistan and Afghanistan could emerge as the most prosperous states in South Asia if the rulers resolved their misunderstandings. An ironic phenomenon was witnessed throughout Kabul on the eve of the T-20 Semi Final between the Green-Shirts and Sri Lankans at Colombo, on Thursday. Afghans of every age demonstrated the same enthusiasm while watching the cricket match as Pakistani nationals and almost all of them prayed for Pakistan’s victory. But unfortunately like millions of Pakistanis, these Afghans were also disappointed when Sri Lanka came out as victorious. At that stage, a government official, Qari Naseer, a computer expert Hilal Shinwari and an emerging cricketer Zabih Shinwari extended sympathies with Sangar’s tribe on the failure of Pakistan. Right from Torkham till Hairataan, almost all Afghan markets and bazaars are flooded with Pakistani products. Trucks carrying construction materials, office materials, stationary, vegetables, China clay, marbles, fresh and dry fruits, vegetables and a wide array of other products regularly make the difficult journey from Pakistan to Afghanistan for the common people. Pakistani labourers, technicians, artisans and others are also playing a key role in the reconstruction and rebuilding of the war-stricken Afghanistan. Due to lacking of proper arrangements between the two governments, however, such efforts aimed at the rehabilitation of Afghanistan face problems. For further boosting up trade links between the two neighbours, Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries is going to hold an exhibition from October 12 to 18 at Kabul. Arrangements in this respect are in full swing, and Afghan traders and businessmen are considering it a valuable opportunity. Newspaper reading habit is very low in Afghanistan but some of the political stalwarts, workers, intellectuals and technocrats developed the habit during their long stay in Pakistan, and have now subscribed to Pakistani newspapers on a regular basis. A couple of days back, the Afghan government banned supply of newspapers from Pakistan on the pretext of its negative approach towards Afghanistan, which has disheartened the readers in Kabul. Continued distrust and misunderstandings between policy makers and rulers from both countries is however increasing the distance amongst the people who entered into close relations with each other after the Soviet invasion. Most Afghans are not only familiar with Pakistan’s culture and traditions but can easily determine the ethnic background of a Pakistani visitor. Strengthening of such relations could help rulers and policy makers from both the countries in tackling their politico-economic crises by adopting policies and strategies in accordance with the wishes and expectations of people.