AhsanAmin
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There is an old Pashtun saying that says, 'the destiny of the two sister cities of Peshawar and Kabul is linked together.' I believe that there is a great truth to this statement. Both cities are mainly Pashtun and are linked by a common history of more than a thousand years. The common ethnic and cultural bonds between the two cities and the fact that Peshawar is located extremely close to the Afghan gateway routes that connect the cities of Kabul, Jalalabad, and others to rest of the world through Pakistani ports in the Arabian sea, gives a very vital strategic importance to Peshawar city. As the largest city close to Kabul lying on the trade routes, it is most natural that this city can contribute the most to revival of the Afghan economy and this city is later poised to benefit the most from the revival in the Afghan economy after the success of joint cooperation between two countries. As the most natural trading partner of Afghanistan, a fast growth in Afghan economy will contribute to increasing trade and commerce, and a greater industrial activity in Pakistan especially benefiting KPK and its provincial capital of Peshawar city. Pakistan is the only country that would benefit most from peace and economic development in Afghanistan after of course Afghanistan herself. Our Pashtun Pakistanis are the same people as most people of Afghanistan and we should encourage every possible economic, cultural, educational and scientific exchange with people of Afghanistan. We should try to develop and model Peshawar city as the hub of economic, trade, cultural, and educational activities in KPK and Afghanistan in a way that it is genuinely good for Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The dilemma is that if Pakistan and Afghanistan do not make concerted efforts towards peace in Afghanistan, and make a comprehensive plan for the economic development of Afghanistan, none of the Afghanistan and Pakistan will be able to benefit from the great opportunities that a joint cooperation towards peace and economic development in Afghanistan has to offer both countries. I believe, it is Pakistan that has to take the initiative and invite Afghan government for a joint discussion towards finding out ways to enhance peace and stability in Afghanistan and work on comprehensive economic cooperation between the two countries. Due to close ethnic and cultural bonds and a centuries old understanding between the two people, Pakistan should project Peshawar city as the center of activities towards economic cooperation with Afghanistan and economic uplift of Afghan people.
I will briefly digress from the main theme to make an observation that politics of cunning, deception, trickery, and 'divide and rule' that imperial nations openly practiced with great success in 18th and 19th century and some nations still continue to practice it in 21st century is totally outdated and passe today and is completely incompatible with psychology of human nations in today's century. If we want to make Afghans our allies we will have to be totally sincere to Afghan cause and make a true effort to uplift the economic conditions of Afghan people. If we cannot help change the destiny of ordinary Afghan people, there may not be much lasting effect from efforts solely designed to benefit our country. A building laid on strong foundations can last for centuries but if the foundation is weak, it will shortly fail the test of time. Though we have our limitations, the closest model of cooperation between Afghanistan and Pakistan could be based on the kind of equality and cooperation that we see between the countries in the European Union.
Another related observation is that if we have a more Pro-Pakistan leader in Kabul, we should try to make him a success with Afghan people by helping him deliver to Afghan people in every way. If Pro-Pakistani leaders could not deliver, there would be greater chances that next leaders might be more anti-Pakistan, something that would create greater problems for both Afghan and Pakistani people. Pakistan should reach an understanding with pro-Pakistan leaders in Kabul and make sure we help them in every possible way in changing the destiny of Afghan people for the better.
There is a tremendous amount of activity that Pakistanis could do towards joint benefit to both countries. We could set up a large industrial clusters close to Peshawar where iron or copper ore could be processed and later converted to more value added products by some other factories in the industrial cluster. These goods could be supplied to larger markets in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Preferably this could be done by Pakistani industrialists in joint partnership with Afghan businessmen, Afghan government or provincial Afghan governments on a profit sharing basis. Pakistani banks would be asked to lend on soft terms for all projects where economic viability of the projects could be independently verified and parties asking for loans do not have a bad credit or reputation for default. Of course, industrialists and businessmen would be free to make other factories (other than related to copper or iron ores etc.) in the industrial cluster where ever they could see viability that their products could be sold in Afghan markets, along with markets elsewhere in Pakistan or exported to rest of the world. Afghan and Pakistani businessmen would also be encouraged to set up factories where raw goods, or agricultural produce from Afghanistan could be processed and converted into more refined and world standard value added goods and exported to other countries from Gawadar or Karachi ports. Only if the exotic Afghan fruit could be properly processed, repackaged and exported, it could fetch more than 750 million dollars a year. There could be modern beverage factories that could make juices from the Afghan fruit and export it to foreign countries after maintaining quality of their processes and introducing better packaging. A lot of large Pakistani food companies have enough access to Gulf and western countries where they could market refined food products of Afghan origin. In case of a dispute between Afghan or Pakistani parties, there could be a council composed of those Afghan and Pakistani businessmen who have a reputation of being very honest and who could help settle the conflicts in the first stage of arbitration before the disputes go to court.
We should also build specialized market hubs(where Afghan traders would be very generously welcome) in Peshawar city that supply different types of industrial and other goods to different cities in Afghanistan based on the improved model of how the markets in cities of Karachi and Lahore supply goods to other local cities around. There would also be specialized zones close to Peshawar where Afghan industrial goods, or agricultural produce could be stored in large warehouses or godowns before these goods are further processed, distributed in Pakistan, or exported to foreign countries. Afghans traders would be generously welcome in these trade hubs both for import or export of goods from Afghanistan.
We could set up three or four large research universities close to Peshawar where Pakistani and Afghan students would be welcome alike. These universities would generously accept and train Afghan students so these Afghan students would prefer to go to universities in Peshawar instead of going to any institute of technology in India or countries elsewhere.There would also be health related universities where Pakistani and Afghan students would be trained in medicine. There could also be several specialized hospitals in Peshawar where Afghan patients would also be treated for the cases where it would be difficult to find expert specialized health care in Afghanistan. Shaukat Khanum Peshawar, for one, could start welcoming afghan cancer patients as a start from Afghanistan after its completion. There could be close cooperation between hospitals in Kabul, Jalalabad and Peshawar and patients could be transferred from Afghan cities to Peshawar on a short notice or with a daily frequency. Afghan doctors would also be trained for specialization after MBBS in Pakistani health universities and they could later go back to Afghanistan after completion of their training and the degree and provide specialized care in hospitals in Afghanistan. Since the people of Afghanistan and KPK share so many things, it would also be very appropriate that we train their educated people aspiring to be school teachers in educational facilities in Peshawar. Our planning bodies could help Afghans plan how to introduce schooling and increase literacy in Afghanistan. And help them in developing a good educational system from primary education to higher education in the universities.
So we would allocate a suitable place close to Peshawar for the industrial cluster, another suitable but different block of land for research universities, hospitals and technology research parks and a third suitable place to specialized market-hubs and warehouses. There could also be a new large mall where affluent Afghans would like to shop. And then there could be some large recreational theme park in the area. And then there could be centers of cultural activity where all Pashtuns, Pakistanis and Afghans would be welcome alike. There could also be an adjacent street where people could have Pakistani, Afghan and cuisine from all other different countries of the world. Suitable places would be allocated for several modern hotels with different fare categories. There could possibly be a modern sports complex and its modern cricket stadium would be the only place in the world where Afghan and Pakistani people would like to defeat each other.A good Pakistani urban planning company could easily make a great design for an extension to Peshawar city that fulfills the above different needs taking into account the possibility of large growth in both Afghanistan and Pakistan as Afghanistan stabilizes and becomes peaceful. If we could be successful in re-modeling the city, there could be even greater possibility that Peshawar becomes the largest cultural, industrial and trade center in the routes to Central Asia that would start to open up 5-10 years into the future after completion of Gawadar port and different industrial zones and market hubs in Peshawar start to supply, import and export goods from markets in Afghanistan, central asia and rest of the world and Peshawar could become the most vital link in the trade routes in the region. If there is peace in Afghanistan, and In the spirit of ancient Qissa Khawani Bazar(bazar of the story tellers) where traders from all different regions of south and central asia when passing through Peshawar used to stay and told exotic stories at night to each other, we could call the proposed extension of Peshawar, the modern Qissa Khawani district of Peshawar.
Kabul and Peshawar could be connected by a large motorway and PIA would be asked to operate between the Kabul and Peshawar airports on a very frequent basis.
While doing this we will have to tell ourselves that if we take a positive and genuine approach to peace and development in Afghanistan, our relations would be built on a truly lasting foundations.I would like to say that we can make Afghans our close allies only when we use wisdom and take genuine, positive and constructive efforts in a way that these efforts help the people of both countries. In modern age, you cannot force other people/nations to be your friends, you have to make them friends by doing genuine things that actually win their hearts. Every Pakistani wants to be friendly with Afghan people and we would like them to be our great allies but we cannot achieve this without genuinely winning their hearts.
I would also suggest that just two of Pakistan and Afghanistan hold a strategic dialogue so that Pakistan ensures that foreign forces leave Afghanistan and Afghanistan does not help Indian intelligence or Army in anyway. Of course, India could do her part in peaceful economic development of Afghanistan and we must never ask Afghanistan to stop taking Indian investment but we should ask Afghan government that anti-Pakistan activities would never be allowed in Afghanistan. Pakistan in return would help win the Afghan government every legitimacy and try to put a lasting end to Taliban insurgency.
Source: https://defence.pk/threads/don’t-blame-pakistan-for-afghanistan’s-woes.431225/#ixzz49wAOhTlM
The dilemma is that if Pakistan and Afghanistan do not make concerted efforts towards peace in Afghanistan, and make a comprehensive plan for the economic development of Afghanistan, none of the Afghanistan and Pakistan will be able to benefit from the great opportunities that a joint cooperation towards peace and economic development in Afghanistan has to offer both countries. I believe, it is Pakistan that has to take the initiative and invite Afghan government for a joint discussion towards finding out ways to enhance peace and stability in Afghanistan and work on comprehensive economic cooperation between the two countries. Due to close ethnic and cultural bonds and a centuries old understanding between the two people, Pakistan should project Peshawar city as the center of activities towards economic cooperation with Afghanistan and economic uplift of Afghan people.
I will briefly digress from the main theme to make an observation that politics of cunning, deception, trickery, and 'divide and rule' that imperial nations openly practiced with great success in 18th and 19th century and some nations still continue to practice it in 21st century is totally outdated and passe today and is completely incompatible with psychology of human nations in today's century. If we want to make Afghans our allies we will have to be totally sincere to Afghan cause and make a true effort to uplift the economic conditions of Afghan people. If we cannot help change the destiny of ordinary Afghan people, there may not be much lasting effect from efforts solely designed to benefit our country. A building laid on strong foundations can last for centuries but if the foundation is weak, it will shortly fail the test of time. Though we have our limitations, the closest model of cooperation between Afghanistan and Pakistan could be based on the kind of equality and cooperation that we see between the countries in the European Union.
Another related observation is that if we have a more Pro-Pakistan leader in Kabul, we should try to make him a success with Afghan people by helping him deliver to Afghan people in every way. If Pro-Pakistani leaders could not deliver, there would be greater chances that next leaders might be more anti-Pakistan, something that would create greater problems for both Afghan and Pakistani people. Pakistan should reach an understanding with pro-Pakistan leaders in Kabul and make sure we help them in every possible way in changing the destiny of Afghan people for the better.
There is a tremendous amount of activity that Pakistanis could do towards joint benefit to both countries. We could set up a large industrial clusters close to Peshawar where iron or copper ore could be processed and later converted to more value added products by some other factories in the industrial cluster. These goods could be supplied to larger markets in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Preferably this could be done by Pakistani industrialists in joint partnership with Afghan businessmen, Afghan government or provincial Afghan governments on a profit sharing basis. Pakistani banks would be asked to lend on soft terms for all projects where economic viability of the projects could be independently verified and parties asking for loans do not have a bad credit or reputation for default. Of course, industrialists and businessmen would be free to make other factories (other than related to copper or iron ores etc.) in the industrial cluster where ever they could see viability that their products could be sold in Afghan markets, along with markets elsewhere in Pakistan or exported to rest of the world. Afghan and Pakistani businessmen would also be encouraged to set up factories where raw goods, or agricultural produce from Afghanistan could be processed and converted into more refined and world standard value added goods and exported to other countries from Gawadar or Karachi ports. Only if the exotic Afghan fruit could be properly processed, repackaged and exported, it could fetch more than 750 million dollars a year. There could be modern beverage factories that could make juices from the Afghan fruit and export it to foreign countries after maintaining quality of their processes and introducing better packaging. A lot of large Pakistani food companies have enough access to Gulf and western countries where they could market refined food products of Afghan origin. In case of a dispute between Afghan or Pakistani parties, there could be a council composed of those Afghan and Pakistani businessmen who have a reputation of being very honest and who could help settle the conflicts in the first stage of arbitration before the disputes go to court.
We should also build specialized market hubs(where Afghan traders would be very generously welcome) in Peshawar city that supply different types of industrial and other goods to different cities in Afghanistan based on the improved model of how the markets in cities of Karachi and Lahore supply goods to other local cities around. There would also be specialized zones close to Peshawar where Afghan industrial goods, or agricultural produce could be stored in large warehouses or godowns before these goods are further processed, distributed in Pakistan, or exported to foreign countries. Afghans traders would be generously welcome in these trade hubs both for import or export of goods from Afghanistan.
We could set up three or four large research universities close to Peshawar where Pakistani and Afghan students would be welcome alike. These universities would generously accept and train Afghan students so these Afghan students would prefer to go to universities in Peshawar instead of going to any institute of technology in India or countries elsewhere.There would also be health related universities where Pakistani and Afghan students would be trained in medicine. There could also be several specialized hospitals in Peshawar where Afghan patients would also be treated for the cases where it would be difficult to find expert specialized health care in Afghanistan. Shaukat Khanum Peshawar, for one, could start welcoming afghan cancer patients as a start from Afghanistan after its completion. There could be close cooperation between hospitals in Kabul, Jalalabad and Peshawar and patients could be transferred from Afghan cities to Peshawar on a short notice or with a daily frequency. Afghan doctors would also be trained for specialization after MBBS in Pakistani health universities and they could later go back to Afghanistan after completion of their training and the degree and provide specialized care in hospitals in Afghanistan. Since the people of Afghanistan and KPK share so many things, it would also be very appropriate that we train their educated people aspiring to be school teachers in educational facilities in Peshawar. Our planning bodies could help Afghans plan how to introduce schooling and increase literacy in Afghanistan. And help them in developing a good educational system from primary education to higher education in the universities.
So we would allocate a suitable place close to Peshawar for the industrial cluster, another suitable but different block of land for research universities, hospitals and technology research parks and a third suitable place to specialized market-hubs and warehouses. There could also be a new large mall where affluent Afghans would like to shop. And then there could be some large recreational theme park in the area. And then there could be centers of cultural activity where all Pashtuns, Pakistanis and Afghans would be welcome alike. There could also be an adjacent street where people could have Pakistani, Afghan and cuisine from all other different countries of the world. Suitable places would be allocated for several modern hotels with different fare categories. There could possibly be a modern sports complex and its modern cricket stadium would be the only place in the world where Afghan and Pakistani people would like to defeat each other.A good Pakistani urban planning company could easily make a great design for an extension to Peshawar city that fulfills the above different needs taking into account the possibility of large growth in both Afghanistan and Pakistan as Afghanistan stabilizes and becomes peaceful. If we could be successful in re-modeling the city, there could be even greater possibility that Peshawar becomes the largest cultural, industrial and trade center in the routes to Central Asia that would start to open up 5-10 years into the future after completion of Gawadar port and different industrial zones and market hubs in Peshawar start to supply, import and export goods from markets in Afghanistan, central asia and rest of the world and Peshawar could become the most vital link in the trade routes in the region. If there is peace in Afghanistan, and In the spirit of ancient Qissa Khawani Bazar(bazar of the story tellers) where traders from all different regions of south and central asia when passing through Peshawar used to stay and told exotic stories at night to each other, we could call the proposed extension of Peshawar, the modern Qissa Khawani district of Peshawar.
Kabul and Peshawar could be connected by a large motorway and PIA would be asked to operate between the Kabul and Peshawar airports on a very frequent basis.
While doing this we will have to tell ourselves that if we take a positive and genuine approach to peace and development in Afghanistan, our relations would be built on a truly lasting foundations.I would like to say that we can make Afghans our close allies only when we use wisdom and take genuine, positive and constructive efforts in a way that these efforts help the people of both countries. In modern age, you cannot force other people/nations to be your friends, you have to make them friends by doing genuine things that actually win their hearts. Every Pakistani wants to be friendly with Afghan people and we would like them to be our great allies but we cannot achieve this without genuinely winning their hearts.
I would also suggest that just two of Pakistan and Afghanistan hold a strategic dialogue so that Pakistan ensures that foreign forces leave Afghanistan and Afghanistan does not help Indian intelligence or Army in anyway. Of course, India could do her part in peaceful economic development of Afghanistan and we must never ask Afghanistan to stop taking Indian investment but we should ask Afghan government that anti-Pakistan activities would never be allowed in Afghanistan. Pakistan in return would help win the Afghan government every legitimacy and try to put a lasting end to Taliban insurgency.
Source: https://defence.pk/threads/don’t-blame-pakistan-for-afghanistan’s-woes.431225/#ixzz49wAOhTlM
and Peshawar is hub of these things
