Monitoring Desk: In this engaging Punjabi podcast featuring Dr. Shazia Anwer Cheema and Jabbar Ch, the discussion delves into a complexity of Afghan history and the geopolitical ramifications of Canada’s recent relations with India.
The conversation begins by challenging the entrenched narrative that Afghanistan is a “graveyard of empires.” Instead, it posits that Afghanistan has historically acted as a “hired gun” for various imperial powers, emphasizing its role as a temporary stop rather than a center of enduring civilization.
The podcast explores the implications of Canada’s perceived surrender to India, particularly in light of the significant Punjabi influence in Canadian politics. This development is framed as potentially disastrous for Canadian civilization, raising concerns about the backlash from the Punjabi community.
Dr. Shazia Cheema highlights the opportunistic nature of Afghan tribes, illustrating their mercenary behavior throughout history, which contrasts sharply with the common belief of Afghanistan being a steadfast bastion against invaders. The discussion also touches upon the internal conflicts within Afghanistan, the lack of a cohesive state identity, and the historical preference for a hunter-gatherer economic model that has hindered state formation. Refereeing an article recently published by DND Thought Centre titiled ‘Pak-Afghan Border clashes: Amir Khan Muttaqi does not know history who won wars in Afghanistan’, Jabbar Ch stated that this article explained the real history of Afghanistan that indicate the claim that nobody could rule Afghanistan from outside in history was nothing more than a cliché and factually untrue. Dr Shazia claimed that there are reasons to believe that cliché was deliberately developed by British historians, and the same fabricated history continued to be taught in history books even after the British Empire left the subcontinent. She further explained the point and claimed that another cliché that Afghans do not allow “foreign boots” on their soil is also historically untrue because Afghanistan has always been under the hooves of invading horses and foreign rulers and acted as ‘hired gun’ of foreign powers.
The podcast gave a brief history of Afghanistan and stated that Afghans ruled Afghanistan only during the short period of the Durrani Empire (1747–1823), and that too with the direct support of the British Empire. It is pertinent to mention that Afghanistan had been under the control of many empires, including the Persians, Alexander the Great, the Maurya Empire, Arab Muslims, the Mongols, Uzbeks (Amir Taimur—Babar—Mughal Empire), Takht-e-Lahore of Raja Ranjit Singh, the British Empire, and, for a short period, the Soviet Union. (Ref: “The Pre-Islamic Period,” Afghanistan Country Study written by Griffin, Luke.)
The Durrani Empire (1747–1823), through direct support of the British Empire, was the first “Afghan rule” in Afghanistan, and then the modern independent state of Afghanistan was also a gift of the British Empire to address its concerns about rising Russian influence in Turkestan.
Podcast explained the history how British Raj formed modern state of Afghanistan in 1921 and how Ahmed Shah Abdali had been attacking sumcontinent as a tool of British empire and looted Punjab and killed thousands of people with British funded campaign of Abdali in Indian subcontinent.
While avoiding the history of “Afghan Jihad” in detail, anchor Jabbar Ch and expert Dr Shazia Anwer Cheema referred that Afghans could not defeat former Soviet Union alone and this “operation Cyclone” was funded by the west and Pakistan played frontline non-NATO member to crush former USSR in Afghanistan as demanded by the West. They also claimed that withdrawal of ISAF forces out of Pakistan was result of US-Afghan deal and due to constant moral support Pakistan provided to Afghan Taliban.
In podcast the role of the Taliban was examined, particularly their lack of a clear governance ideology and their historical function as a mercenary force for different empires. The podcast critiques the Taliban’s rapid rise to power and the self-exposure of their governance failures.
Furthermore, the conversation addressed Afghanistan’s recent diplomatic efforts with nations like China, Russia, and Iran, alongside the country’s reliance on Pakistan for maintaining international relations. Challenges in economic development, particularly in infrastructure projects, were also discussed, highlighting the need for patience, investment, and responsible governance to foster national growth.
Overall, the podcast provides a thought-provoking analysis of Afghanistan’s tumultuous history and its current geopolitical challenges, urging a reevaluation of common perceptions and advocating for a more nuanced understanding of the region’s dynamics.
