India - Pakistan rivalry in Afghanistan implications for Afghan national security

Abstract

Afghanistan is known as the "Heart of Asia"; has important geographical significance that always caused to be the main reason of attracting the great powers. History shows that Afghans have been less likely to obey any power or to be governed by any power. Due to this reason their landscape played the role of buffer zone in the great game era. The colonial power of the time, Britain fought three wars with Afghanistan the last one resulted fmally in Afghanistan's independence by Amanullah in 1919. The Great Russian (USSR) invasion 1979 also got immense repulsion from the people of Afghanistan, which resulted in the demise of Union of Soviet Socialist Republic and a change in International system, US became the sole superpower in 1991. During Afghans war with USSR, th r gional ountri got an opportunity to in rt th ir oli ies. They divided Afghans in different factions to disable them from expected threat to their integrity and interests. Terrorism and Al-Qaida found safe heavens under Taliban regime. They challenged the world security especially western powers as they attacked on the world trade center planned by them. United states and NATO forces toppled Taliban government and brought a semi-democratic government. Hamid Karzai was elected the first president of the existing political system through Bonn Conference. Pakistan and India two archrival neighbors also got their jaws in Afghanistan international political affairs. The game played by all sides but, the blood was from Afghans. This triangle rivalry has affected not only South Asia but also the world by increased number of terrorists' activities and emerging other groups such as ISIS and other regional and sub regional terrorist militant wings