Blain2
THINK TANK: CONSULTANT
First thing first, who even came up with this "strategic depth" concept aside from Indian and anti-Pakistan western observers? They use that to make it sound like Pakistan controls Afghanistan (as much as they all have tried to do the same), which is not the case otherwise what we see today would not be happening.So who should we thank for this?
The 75 year fake dream of strategic depth? Should not the planners be put on stand?
Second, I have never read in any Pakistani military literature about this concept of "strategic depth". It has never been planned, it has never been talked of and it has never been exercised (and more so, nobody throwing it around can even explain what it means. Is it depth in terms of influence or parking tanks inside Kabul?). If its influence then why is Pakistan the only guilty party? Have the Russians not done this by invading, how about Americans, Iranians, Tajiks and even Indians?
The only key assumption with regards to Afghanistan in our military circles has been to have:
a) Friendly Afghanistan to our west
b) If not, then a neutral Afghanistan to our west
These are the only two assumptions that exist in the military circles. So stop regurgitating this "strategic depth" nonsense which is a bait that some Pakistanis have taken hook, line and sinker to make their own country seem like some imperialist power.
Pakistan has been fending off Afghani animosity since 1947. They were the last Muslim country to recognize Pakistan should tell you why the establishment has been trying to reign in this threat.
Whether military or civilian, Pakistani governments have all looked at Afghanistan's machinations with unease.






