Pakistan can become next Afghanistan, warn Afghan commanders

Former Afghan commanders, who fought against Soviet forces, have said that if Islamabad and Islamist militants remain in conflict, there is a risk of Pakistan becoming another Afghanistan.

Peshawar, July 18 : Former Afghan commanders, who fought against Soviet forces, have said that if Islamabad and Islamist militants remain in conflict, there is a risk of Pakistan becoming another Afghanistan.

They said the growing unrest in the NWFP and the tribal areas of Pakistan, where there have been repeated suicide attacks on security forces, is exhibiting similar symptoms as Afghanistan.

"Pakistan may face a worse crisis than Afghanistan, as this country has nuclear weapons," former Afghan commander Haji Muhammad Zaman warned.

Pakistan was the transit route for the US-backed Muslim fighters and weapons sent into Afghanistan against the Red Army occupation, and Peshawar was the de-facto capital of the Afghan resistance against the communists, Zaman said.

The Daily Times quoted him as saying, that the angry reaction of people in NWFP and the tribal areas after the Lal Masjid operation, and suicide attacks on security forces, show how deeply radicalised the Pashtuns have become.

"How can you change the people so soon who underwent 30 years of radicalisation? Excessive use of force is no solution to keep people away from what we call extremism," Zaman added.

Haji Masood Khan, former commander for Afghan leader Pir Syed Ahmed Gilani, said that in 2007, the phenomenon of Talibanisation has spilled over into several Frontier districts from Waziristan.

He claimed, "Things are happening even outside Waziristan now, and added that there is a "danger that Pakistan may go Afghanistan's way as I look at the current situation in this country."

Khan said though Afghanistan's case was different than that of Pakistan, there was still "cause for great concern" for Afghanistan as serious disturbances in Pakistan were not a good omen for that country.

ANI