Of Afghan Scapegoats and Selective Outrage: Pakistan's 'Open War' on Kabul
Zoom out for a second: Pakistan has unleashed airstrikes on Afghanistan and declared 'open war.' This escalation follows days of border clashes, yet the international outcry remains strikingly muted, a stark contrast to the swift condemnation that would greet similar actions by states deemed less amenable to Western interests. This current aggression from Islamabad rehashes a familiar pattern of
external interference in Afghan affairs, echoing the British 'Great Game' of the 19th century, particularly the Second Anglo-Afghan War which began in 1878. Then, as now, powerful neighbors used Afghanistan as a strategic battleground, asserting dominance through military force rather than diplomatic process. Afghanistan, a country that has endured continuous foreign intervention since the Soviet
invasion of 1979, including two decades of Western occupation, is once again caught in the crosshairs. Consider the double standard: when a Western power, or an ally like Israel, conducts 'pre-emptive' strikes or engages in cross-border operations, the rhetoric often centers on self-defense or counter-terrorism. When a state like Pakistan, a key US aid recipient to the tune of over $30 billion
since 9/11, attacks Afghanistan, silence often prevails. This asymmetric response lays bare how 'sovereignty' and 'international law' are selectively applied, contingent on geopolitical alliances and perceived threat levels. The current Pakistani aggression is framed by Islamabad as a response to alleged safe havens for anti-Pakistan militants, yet this same justification has been used for decades