CULTURAL DECAY

The culture of Afghanistan could not be protected when the US troops along with their allied forces invaded the country following the September 11 attacks. The landlocked nation was not given a chance to protect its cultural legacy. One element of their culture that the US forces also experienced was bravery in combat. They consider escapism to be below their integrity. Nake M. Kamrany, professor of economics at the University of Southern California, in his article Cultural Imperative of Afghanistan writes, “Afghans do have a propensity to settle differences with enemies if they regard such a settlement as being fair. Generally superb bargainers, they are, at times, stubborn and inflexible — adhering to a position, even if unreasonable, to the bitter end.”

The culture of Afghanistan remained active for over three thousand years. It first emerged in 500 BCE during the Achaemenid Empire also called the First Persian Empire.

Afghanistan, a tribal society, pursues an Islamic culture with traces of Persian elements creating a subculture that became a symbol of the Afghan nationals. The Turko-Persian and Indo-Persian cultures have influenced the growth of the Afghan culture as a whole. Afghanistan’s culture was undermined when the US troops invaded the country. The blend of Western and Eastern values presented a new ideology that the locals wanted to dilute while adhering to their age-old customs and traditions.

In March 2001 the Taliban destroyed various Buddha statues in Afghanistan’s Bamiyan Valley. They were a part of the UNESCO World Heritage. This was perhaps the first instance when the Taliban decided to create their history by erasing the rudiments from their past – no matter how historic they may be.

“Afghan culture is under attack,” said Afghan-born Bahar Jalali, Ph.D, during an interview in 2021. She is a visiting associate professor of history at Loyola University Maryland. When commenting on the culture of Afghanistan, she said, “Afghanistan is located at the confluence of four geographic zones — Central Asia, South Asia, Middle East, and Far East via a border with China. It has been called the Heart of Asia. Therefore, Afghan culture is very rich and diverse, reflecting the country’s distinctive geography and ethnography. As a multi-ethnic country with two official languages, Afghan culture is syncretic. It was once a major centre of Buddhism. Afghanistan also had thriving Jewish, Armenian, and Sikh/Hindu communities. Due to the recent Taliban seizure of power, the last remaining Jew was forced to leave the country. So, we lost our Jewish community, which dates back centuries. Similarly, the last remaining Sikhs were evacuated to India after the Taliban took power. We feel an enormous sense of loss. As a historically diverse land, Afghanistan’s true culture is at odds with attempts to impose Islamic fundamentalism and extremism on the country. This is why we have seen mass protests and demonstrations recently in the country against the imposition of Taliban rule.”

The timing of this conflict was equally significant as a new chief of army staff was slated to take charge at the end of November. In the days leading up to the appointment, a cloud of uncertainty prevailed over who the next army chief would be. Speculation ran rife in the media over the possible successors and their perceived sympathies with political parties. This trend was indicative of a deeper malaise. A cluster of political events over the years has pulled the military into a deep quagmire that has impacted its reputation. Other developments, such as the DG ISI’s presser and confirmations about Imran’s meeting with General Qamar Javed Bajwa, have added kindling to the flame.

The situation in Pakistan had remained increasingly fragile even before the gun attack on Imran Khan.

As per a report on NDTV’s website, the gun attack on Imran “spawned new strategic factors for India”, which include the future of the intelligence and the army in Pakistani politics. The news report highlighted that an “internal struggle” had weakened the army and Bajwa was “involved in the firefighting”. In addition, the report suggested that while the military tackled its own internal woes, India could “breathe easy”.

It is difficult to envisage a scenario where India can heave a sigh of relief following the internal frictions within Pakistan’s polity. Indian journalists have warned against the possible spillover effects of the crisis that has gripped Pakistan with an iron fist. At this stage, the threats to regional and international stability cannot be overlooked.

The situation in Pakistan had remained increasingly fragile even before the gun attack on Imran. Over the last few months, Pakistan has been in the grip of inflationary pressures. The recent floods have added to the country’s economic woes. Foreign exchange reserves have dwindled and debt repayments will only exacerbate the country’s economic instability. It is believed that terror outfits are usually emboldened during periods of economic distress in Pakistan. Under the circumstances, the threat of a cross-border spillover of violence to India seems imminent. Statistics indicate that Pakistan’s external debt stands at 37% of its GDP. Analysts are of the view that any further default will culminate in considerable instability in the international credit market.

While Pakistan has been removed from the FATF’s grey list, terror outfits are still being provided safe havens along the Pak-Afghan border. This could also result in more terrorist attacks within the country. As a result, Pakistan’s valued position as the lynchpin to China’s One Belt One Road Initiative could also be compromised, which could potentially benefit India in the long run.

A climate of instability has assailed South Asian countries in recent months. If Pakistan -- a formidable nuclear power -- also witnesses a gradual descent into chaos, peace in the region will become a distant dream.