By Arun Joshi

 Anti-Pakistan  protests have erupted in the Afghan capital Kabul  in a rare show of defiance and resistance to the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan .  The people in Afghanistan know that Taliban is nothing but  Pakistan’s proxy.. Therefore, they have  hit at the origin of Taliban- Pakistan . These protests have indicated that the things have turned against Pakistan and would continue to offer resistance to the Taliban rule .

On Tuesday , streets of Kabul were filled by  anti-Pakistan  protestors , mostly placard carrying women , chanting anti-Pakistan slogans – “ death to Pakistan” and calling for “ Pakistan to quit Afghanistan.”. They also wanted “ freedom” from Pakistan sponsored Taliban rule in Afghanistan.

These protests as reported by various foreign news agencies also showed  the video clips  showing the protestors marching through  the central Kabul raising feverish pitched slogans against Pakistan . The Taliban  tried to disperse anti-Pakistan  protestors by firing at them, revealing that how brutal Taliban could be . This was action prompted by Pakistan that is finding that anti-Pakistan protests would damage its interests for which it had supported Taliban and enabled it to gain the position where it is negotiating with the world leaders and trying to seek concessions to legitimize its rule in Afghanistan against the wishes of the people there . The people fear that they would be subjected to the same old dark days when Taliban ruled last between 1996-2001.

Taliban spokesperson  Zabiullah Mujahid has been claiming that “the war is over”  and the Taliban is busy in shaping the government that would give a fair governance in which the women would be free to study, exercise their rights and do their jobs without any fear . The Taliban has also assured that it would not allow  its soil to be used for terror activities against other countries.

As it was seeking to assure the world that it has changed its violent methods and is reformed organization that knows its responsibilities toward the people,  Afghans

have risen in revolt against it.  Women had demonstrated against the Taliban rule a couple of days ago , and that protest was broken up by the use of gun fire and teargas .

Today’s protests in Kabul have come  three days after the visit of  Pakistan’s spy agency  Inter-Services Intelligence or ISI chief  Lt. Gen/ Faiz Hameed to the Afghan capital where he met the Taliban leaders to help them resolve their differences . He was there on a day-long trip of Kabul. The ISI chief had put all the guidelines for the Taliban leaders on the table  and asked them to adhere to what Pakistan wanted out of them.

The ISI  chief had also promised all the help of his country to Taliban fighting the resistance leaders in Panjshir , the only province that had  stayed out of the control of the Taliban. Gen. Hameed shared with the Taliban commanders the military strategy to be adopted in Panjshir.

The direct interference of Pakistan in Afghanistan affairs has caused a great deal of anger against Pakistan in the country. The people there blame Pakistan for creating all the chaos  and destruction in their country. They fear that Pakistan would gain access to their resources and marginalize all the liberties and status of self-dependence that they had gained over the past 20 years  in the absence of the Taliban rule.

The Taliban’s offer to China to eb part of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor  is viewed by Afghan people as  selling out of their natural resources to the foreign power like China that , along with Pakistan, helped Taliban in toppling the government and gaining control of Afghanistan’s territory and natural resources . There is a fear that Pakistan-China- Taliban nexus would deprive  Afghanistan and its people of their natural resources and shatter the economy.

It also serves a lesson to  all those elements in Kashmir who were celebrating Taliban victory . The atrocities of Taliban on the  people is now evoking a severe backlash. That is also the fate reserved  for the forces of darkness in Kashmir .

About the Author:

Arun Joshi is a senior journalist based in J&K. He has worked with Hindustan Times, Times of India, Indian Express, and The Tribune. He has authored “ Eyewitness Kashmir: Teetering on Nuclear War” and three other books.

DISCLAIMER

This is the personal opinion of the author. The views expressed in this write up have nothing to do with it.