The Foreign Office (FO) on Tuesday condemned the disrespect of Pakistan’s national anthem by Afghan diplomatic officials based in Peshawar by not standing up during a Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government event. This raises questions about the state of Pakistan’s diplomatic relations with Afghanistan, as Afghanistan at the moment is only recognised by China, the only country that asserted it sovereignty not affected by the western views about Afghanistan.
Sadly Afghanistan does not seem to have the same respect for diplomatic norms that Pakistan adheres to, particularly when dealing with perceived adversaries like India. Afghans considered as bumpkins and uncivilised by the civilised world, who ironically imposed on them endless wars resulting into their untold sufferings which created in the Afghans the rebellious attitude that today the world disapprovingly observe.
Historically, Afghans have repeatedly proven themselves to be unreliable allies—what many might call Namak Haram— especially to those they consider enemies and friends they never betrayed even if it meant a threat to their own sovereignty – anyone who sought refugee on Afghan soil were never handed back to their foes as a mark of respect to the code of honour of the Afghans or Pukhtunwali . Given this track record, Pakistan must either choose to ignore them or confront them, as middle-ground diplomacy seems ineffective with a nation that has resisted external influence for over three centuries.
One of the most glaring examples of Afghan betrayal occurred during the U.S. war in Afghanistan. The Americans, perplexed by the increasing casualties caused by Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers—who were trained and funded by the U.S.—undertook a detailed investigation to understand this unexpected violence. Despite the Americans’ efforts to support and train the Afghan forces, many ANA soldiers turned against their U.S. allies, killing them in attacks that deeply shocked the U.S. military and civilian leadership.
In his book Directorate S, author Steve Coll recounts a tragic incident on November 29, 2010, when an Afghan border policeman, part of a joint operation with U.S. soldiers in Nangarhar Province, turned his weapon on his allies, killing six Americans . This event, one of the worst such betrayals in U.S. military history, spurred the U.S. Army to commission a “Red Team” research project. The aim was to understand the growing divide between Afghan trainees and their foreign advisers.
The Red Team study sought to identify the root causes of this deadly alienation. It involved interviews with over 600 Afghan soldiers, police, and interpreters, as well as 120 American soldiers. The Afghan respondents voiced strong criticisms of American ican conduct, which often echoed the Taliban’s grievances. Complaints included accusations of overly violent night raids, humiliating home searches, disrespect toward Afghan women, and reckless and arrogant behavior on the roads. Many Afghans felt that the Americans were insensitive to their cultural norms and that they were responsible for the deaths of too many civilians, sparking widespread resentment.
This profound mistrust and alienation were difficult for the Americans to comprehend, particularly given their capitalist mindset that financial aid and military support should win them loyalty. Despite the vast resources poured into Afghanistan, the loyalty of Afghan soldiers remained elusive.
As a committed Pakistani, I believe that the lesson here is not about expecting loyalty from others but rather examining our own sense of patriotism. Before criticizing others for their perceived lack of respect for our national symbols, like the national anthem, we must first reflect on our own national identity. Many of us, who stand with our hands over our hearts during the anthem, must question whether our loyalty lies with our country or with our personal interests. Are we truly ready to defend Pakistan from external threats, militarily or diplomatically, as our neighboring countries have done? Or are we too divided along ethnic lines—Baloch, Sindhi, Punjabi, and Pashtun—to stand united?
The Americans, through their Red Team study, confronted the painful reality of betrayal by their Afghan allies. When will we, as Pakistanis, confront our own internal divisions and faults, rather than constantly finding fault in others? True patriotism begins with self-reflection and the willingness to address our own shortcomings. Only then can we expect loyalty and respect from others.Long Live Pakistan 🇵🇰