1986: The Afghan-Pakistani War Pt 1
Ever sunce the foundation in the modern day with the fall of the British Empire, Afghanitan was on tense terms with Pakistan. They were the only one to vote for Pakistan to not join the Untied Nations decades prior and conflicts remained, primarily over Pakistan's provinece consisting predomintantly of Pashtuns, which Afghanistan felt was rightfully theirs along with the questins over Balochistan out of concerns of Afghanistan's lack of access to the sea. However, there was little that Afghanistan could really do outside of trying to engage over Pakistan and bide their time.
The 1970s changed everything though.
Pakistan's complicated relationship with the United States became soured because of the efforts of one individual: Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq. A four star general, he would become the 6th president of Pakistan after initiating a coup and stating martial law within the nation in 1977, serving as the head of state since 1978. [1] While relations seemingly were well with President Reagan, the same could not be said with President Udall. Udall's emphasis on domestic affairs over international troubles meant that Zia-ul-Haq and Pakistan found themselves with much less financial assistance than under Reagen which in it of itself was hamstrung by the economic troubles caused by the Panama Incident and the subsequent conflicts with the Democrat-controlled House and Senate.
Additionally, the reason that Zia-ul-Haq provided for the need of support, that being concern over potential Soviet involvement in Afghanistan would turn out to be false as the Saur Standoff ended with political reform and little Soviet involvement. Combine this with Zia's growing "Islamization" of the nation, the curtailing of civil rights along with censorship and other concerns regarding his militant rule, [1] it was little surprise why this would lead to a chilling of relations between the Untied States and Pakistan. However, the real danger would come over in 1983.
An Afghani spy discovered Pakistan's uranium enrichment program and the beginnings of a nuclear weapons' program, [2] a valuable piece of information that would make its way into American hands and cause quite a shockwave across the world, especially with relationships being cold as they are. After initial talks failed in trying to make ul-Haq comply regarding nuclear enrichment, both the United States and the Soviet Union along with their spheres of influence would place sanctions on Pakistan, greatly isolating the nation and slowing down the development of their nuclear program. In response to their increasing solitude, this led to a greater number of actions by Zia-ul-Haq and hia administration against percieved enemies of the state such as various liberals, socialists and so on. Unsurprisingly, this led to increased troubles down the line, especially with some of the minorities in the state. However, with the economy beginning to suffer from the sanctions, Pakistan was looking more vulnerable yet they did not cease their opeations in nuclear weaponry nor in their other programs.
The Republic of Afghanistan under Daoud survived the Saur Standoff and while the communists may have become a prominent figure, they maintained their stance on with the Americans and Soviets on being equal and affable. Additionally, the schism in the Afghan Communists and subsequent tribalism allowed for the nationalists to remain prominent and join forces with the more moderate factions within, resulting for a surprisingly relative peace within the nation. Both of them would come to find common ground in improving Afghanistan, their secularism and so on. As such, one would begin influencing the other in their goals and agendas. Unsurprisingly, they would reignite their old contempt of Pakistan because of the ideological differences mixed in with the desire to get back what they believed was theirs.
With the discovery of the nuclear weapons program, Afghanistan began improving their military as best they could along with their infrastructure, unofficially leaning more on the Soviets for weapons and support throughout the whole thing. However, they knew that even with that and Pakistan suffering from the sanctions placed on them, the latter was still very much a large threat and one that Afghanistan would not be able to handle by themselves.
and thus, they approached India.
Suspecting Pakistan of being involved in the Khalistan movement over in the Indian Punjab, India was quite receptive to Afgani discussions in what to do with their mutual problems. Especially the possibility of extensively weakening Pakistan. India also wished to solidify their claims over the territories disputed between them and Pakistan in the Kashmir region. Afghanistan was all too willing to do so if India would agree to do same with Pakistan’s “Northwest Province” belonging to Afghanistan along with stirring trouble in Baluchistan. They would sign a secret pact regarding the preparations for a likely war and to have the other’s support when the time came to strike.
That time would be arriving in 1986, when Afghan intelligence forces with Soviet assistance would uncover two major revelations. One was that Pakistani was not just continuing with its nuclear program, but is becoming close to producing weapons-grade material through secret enrichment facilities. The second was that Pakistan had been providing to assistance to guerilla forces over in Afghanistan.
It became clear that Pakistan was now a threat to the security and prosperity of Afghanistan and with them coming close to the development of nuclear weaponry, the time to strike had to be now, before Pakistan could finish developing a viable nuclear weapon. Afghanistan’s government had been preparing for this a long while and the concerns sent over to India would also have India begin preparing itself and amassing its forces for the official declaration of war. India was undergoing some troubles domestically, but the opportunity to deal further wounds to Pakistan had been too enticing to resist. Additionally, there was the concerns of Pakistan becoming a nuclear power and the ongoing Siachen conflict which added further to the fire. Meanwhile, Afghanistan had ensured some level of USSR support, albeit minimal. Their big concern was the Americans though. Fortunately, it seemed like the Americans would not come to the aid of Pakistan, thanks to the Americans’ insistence on domestic affairs and the massive decline in American-Pakistani relationships due to the autocratic rule of Zia-ul-Haq. Beyond them, Pakistan had no allies that would be willing to help them.
And so, a day in November, the Afghan ruling body with the Prime Minister and President stood together as they would accuse Pakistan of further threatening Afghani stability and safety with their continuation into nuclear weaponry and the accusations of funding guerilla fighters who opposed the government among other grievances. And thus, the Republic of Afghanistan officially declares war on Pakistan. Just a day later, India would declare on Pakistan in support of their ally Afghanistan.
And thus would begin the war…
———————————————————
[1]- Information and phrasing from here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_Zia-ul-Haq
[2]- Information and phrasing from here:
https://nuke.fas.org/guide/pakistan/nuke/chron.htm
