Page 338 - SSB Interview: The Complete Guide, Second Edition

Afghanistan

Both Pakistan and India consider their relations with Afghanistan as most

important. Both countries have fought proxy wars against each other, and
both countries are reportedly making an extensive effort to gain influence on

the Afghan Government for their own regional interests. The Soviet Union in
1979 intervened to protect the fragile Communist government and prevent
the collapse of the Afghanistan Soviet Socialist Republic (Afghanistan SSR)

into the hands of hard-line Islamist forces. With the deployment of the Soviet
th
Union’s 40 Army, new strains appeared in Indo-Pakistan relations, and a
proxy war between India and Pakistan began to take place for the first time in

Afghanistan. Pakistan, with the backing of the United States, actively
supported the Afghan resistance against the Soviet Union, which was a close
ally of India, which brought opposing political opinions. India, on the other

hand, supported the Communist government.

After the Taliban defeated the Northern Alliance in much of Afghanistan in
the 1996 civil war, the Taliban regime was strongly supported by Pakistan.

India firmly opposed the Taliban and criticised Pakistan for supporting it.
India established its links with the Northern Alliance as India officially
recognised their government, with the United Nations. India’s relations with

Afghanistan, Pakistan’s neighbour, and its increasing presence there has irked
Pakistan.

The 2008 Indian embassy bombing in Kabul was a suicide bomb terror

attack. US intelligence officials suggested that Pakistan’s Inter-Services
Intelligence (ISI) agency had planned the attack. Pakistan tried to deny any
responsibility, but United States President George W. Bush confronted

Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani with evidence and warned him
that in case of another such attack, he would have to take “serious action”.
Pakistan has been accused by India, Afghanistan, the United States and the

United Kingdom of involvement in terrorism in Kashmir and Afghanistan. In
July 2009, President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari admitted that the Pakistan
government had “created and nurtured” terrorist groups to achieve its short-

term foreign policy goals.