Re: The Shift of Power
Many foresee the eventual unification of Pakistan and Afghanistan in their entirety. Both countries have diverse populations with strong Pashtun(Afghan) minorities. Many scholars point to the fact that stability in one country is directly tied to events in the other. Both countries in fact, already share strong trade, economic, cultural, linguistic, religious, political and historical ties. They have been united in the past on several different occasions. Afghan and in particular Tajik traders and scholars regularly travelled to the Indus in ancient times and plied their trade. Scholars point out that its not a matter of if the two countries unite, but rather of when they unite as the two countries histories seem inextricably intertwinned. Such a union, would prove beneficial in many aspects. The Afghan (Pashtun) ethnic groups would finally be united but be balanced by a myriad of ethnic groups. Traditionally, when Afghans were united in a nation of their own, they have often been bogged down in internal warfare and tribal feuds. However, when part of a multi ethnic state, they have often flourished. The economic potential of such a confederation would be enormous and help propel both countries forward economically particularly for Afghanistan, but Pakistan would also benefit considerably. Such a move would also stabilize the region as a whole. Often what one country lacks, the other has, eg. Pakistan has a surplus of food while Afghanistan has shortages of foodstuffs. Afghanistan has an abundance of untapped natural resources and offers strategic depth while Pakistan often lacks them. The two countries where united as recently as the 18th century under the Afghan Empire founded by Ahmed Shah Durrani, an Afghan born in Multan, in the province of Panjab in modern day Pakistan.