The soviet takeover of afghanistan in 1979 was simply a new episode in the domination of that country by russians for the last 200 yrs
the response it generated largely in the muslim world was artifically created by americans …it results disastrous for the world and esp. pakistan.
The only people who benefitted are the pakistani military generals who under the pretence of “holy war” brain washed thousands of afghan youths and turned them into cold blooded murderers while they reaped the rewards doled out from an equally “evil empire” .
Also it earned the pakistanis lasting distrust and hatred from the Russians
with hindsight it was a bad move to support the americans against the soviets
Re: Afghan war : resisting the russians was a mistake
I agree, that was a useless war that only resulted in misery... But America would have done anything to get the Russians out and embarassed, no matter the cost.
Re: Afghan war : resisting the russians was a mistake
america is paying the price too.
Re: Afghan war : resisting the russians was a mistake
Only a tough guy like Zia could tackle such a war..
Re: Afghan war : resisting the russians was a mistake
Only a tough guy like Zia could tackle such a war..
Bhaijan, without US miltary support Zia could not have done anything. Pakistanis and Afghanis would now be speaking Russian if had not been for the USA support.
Re: Afghan war : resisting the russians was a mistake
^^ true...
from 1979-1984, Afghans lost over 700,000 men fighting the soviets and were nearing their breaking point
its only when the Reagan started sending large numbers of weapons to Afghans in 1984 that the tide began to turn and by 1986, the afghans wee winning
the afghans only lost 500,000 men from 1984-1989....
Re: Afghan war : resisting the russians was a mistake
People forget history so soon, Many came and went non survived in Afghanistan.. Be it the Russkies or amreekans they will run (and are on the run)
The game in Afghan is to pit Northie drug lords against the Southern Pashtoons thats the only way 10 thousand amreekan gals can survive.
Re: Afghan war : resisting the russians was a mistake
^ How do you feel about india and russia squeezing Pakistan on both sides in case of a war?
About corruption, it is about the mindset of our ruling class. People made millions from the kashmir campaign to even the disastrous earthquake [even that happens 
] so I think it was bound to happen with the huge amount of $$$ flowing in the region. As long as you don’t have accountability of all people regardless of power or rank, Pakistan will always remain a state teetering or actually becoming a failed banana republic.
Re: Afghan war : resisting the russians was a mistake
^^ true...
from 1979-1984, Afghans lost over 700,000 men fighting the soviets and were nearing their breaking point
its only when the Reagan started sending large numbers of weapons to Afghans in 1984 that the tide began to turn and by 1986, the afghans wee winning
the afghans only lost 500,000 men from 1984-1989....
I think this is how many afghan wars have played out over the years from the british to the russian. We are nearing the same point in which the tide turned against Russians in the current WoT. The relationship between afghanistan and pakistan are really bad and Pakistan can use the pashtun factor [there are some grievances]. Personally, I think there are too few troops in afghanistan. America might end up beefing afghanistan as it pulls out of Iraq because without america, NATO is just a pile of bull**** with lack of cohesiveness and firepower.
Re: Afghan war : resisting the russians was a mistake
^^ true...
from 1979-1984, Afghans lost over 700,000 men fighting the soviets and were nearing their breaking point
its only when the Reagan started sending large numbers of weapons to Afghans in 1984 that the tide began to turn and by 1986, the afghans wee winning
the afghans only lost 500,000 men from 1984-1989....
Would that have been so bad? The Russians would have developed the country, improved education etc... Afghanistan would have been stable eventually and we wouldnt have had to deal with all the refugees and the other negative fall out of the War...
Re: Afghan war : resisting the russians was a mistake
pakpatriot my brother in buddhism, what you are missing out on is, at this point in time, just over a decade from fighting a poorly coordinated multi-front war with india, pak did not want any chance of another war on two fronts. a russian satellite afghanistan would mean exactly this, especially with afghans already claiming the durand line illegal. pak did what it had to. afghanistan bears the fruits of pak's strategic depth, but the alternate scenario is probably a lot worse from pakistan's p.o.v.
Re: Afghan war : resisting the russians was a mistake
it is our own fault that we alienated the soviets early in our history
to expect that they will leave pakistan alone after what we did to them in the 50s -60s was wishful thinking …however even then a nonaligned policy would have decreased the hostility of USSR
I agree
Re: Afghan war : resisting the russians was a mistake
[quote]
it is our own fault that we alienated the soviets early in our history
to expect that they will leave pakistan alone after what we did to them in the 50s -60s was wishful thinking .....however even then a nonaligned policy would have decreased the hostility of USSR
[/quote]
I think Pakistan started supporting afghan mujahideen even before Zia's time so a lot couldn't be done in the eighties. I will agree with queer that Pakistan did what had to be done though, in hindsight, it could've been better. There was the durand line issue and the fact that lines were pretty much drawn back in the eighties. I think Pakistan had the fear in mind about what would happen in a war if an indian ally russia was sitting right next door
Re: Afghan war : resisting the russians was a mistake
From Indian Prespective, yes Pakistan Shouldn't be invloved in the war, and USSR should have taken over Afghanistan and let Pakistan be squeezed between India and USSR. Yes Indians were disappointed when Pakistan offered help to Gorillas in Afghanistan.
Considering what the topic starter and others are saying, Sub-Continent should never be freed from British Rule. It would have been stable region, no issue of Kashmir, no need of three or four wars between India and Pakistan, i wonder y Gandhi and other freedom leader of Indian side never thought of this. Why they were keen to outset British from India (and indians are now willing to do anything to get British Passport)
From Pakistan's Prespective, It was matter of survival, India and USSR had done enough damage in 1971's war, India should be thank ful to Benazir other wise the Sikhs of Punjab might have their own country by now and automatically Kashmir would have been freed.
Re: Afghan war : resisting the russians was a mistake
From Indian Prespective, yes Pakistan Shouldn't be invloved in the war, and USSR should have taken over Afghanistan and let Pakistan be squeezed between India and USSR. Yes Indians were disappointed when Pakistan offered help to Gorillas in Afghanistan.
.
really???...i dont think so. india did oppose USSR for that, though not officially in front of everyone, so that it doesn't loose its friendship.
Re: Afghan war : resisting the russians was a mistake
Would that have been so bad? The Russians would have developed the country, improved education etc... Afghanistan would have been stable eventually and we wouldnt have had to deal with all the refugees and the other negative fall out of the War...
have you forgotten the fact that Russians after their conquest of Afghanistan would then turn on Pakistan and using their Indian allies, could have destroyed Paksitan and gained access to the Arabian Sea and increase their influence in the middle east and iran
Re: Afghan war : resisting the russians was a mistake
really???...i dont think so. india did oppose USSR for that, though not officially in front of everyone, so that it doesn't loose its friendship.
Really???.. Indian Govt might have opposed USSR's invasion deep in heart.
what a argument.
Re: Afghan war : resisting the russians was a mistake
The argument is correct in my opinion as Russia at time of invasion had no plans to come ahead. Well it might or might not have developed later on, can be argued but this warm water acess was kind of propaganda of USA and Pakistani Establishment. We are paying the very heavy price of this Afghan Jihad and we will continue to do so in near to far future
Re: Afghan war : resisting the russians was a mistake
The argument is correct in my opinion as Russia at time of invasion had no plans to come ahead. Well it might or might not have developed later on, can be argued but this warm water acess was kind of propaganda of USA and Pakistani Establishment. We are paying the very heavy price of this Afghan Jihad and we will continue to do so in near to far future
For a minute let say they did have plans for invading Pakistan and they have desire for accessing the warm waters of Arabian Sea.
how should Pakistan had defended herself from the Mighty USSR in north and her Ally India in south?
we'll talk about price later
Re: Afghan war : resisting the russians was a mistake
Really???.. Indian Govt might have opposed USSR's invasion deep in heart.
what a argument.
then pakistan getting squeezed of advancing soviets and india is also not a good argument. You supported afghan jehad to get US support in terms of finance and military and not because of getting squeezed or anything like that.