July 23, 2021

Afghanistan, Pakistan and the Schadenfreude syndrome

topic:	Peace and Reconciliation
located:	Afghanistan, Pakistan
editor:	Shadi Khan Saif

The ongoing Taliban-led turf war across Afghanistan on the one hand, and the heated verbal exchanges between Afghan officials and their Pakistani counterparts on the other is proving to be a toxic tonic for common people on both sides.

Frustrated by the mounting Taliban assaults in all corners of the country, it is quite natural for common Afghans and their government to reject and condemn those celebrating it.

With all due respect to freedom of expression, Pakistanis harbouring sympathy towards the Taliban or the Afghan government may express it in their own private space, as per their own wisdom, particularly when it comes to government officials. Alas, Islamabad, which holds great responsibility, simply stands by and smiles as Afghanistan burns, as an array of top Pakistani officials unleash their crude anger at the Afghan government, thus sowing more seeds of hatred when there is a great need for cooperation and harmony. 

Such miscalculated strategic objectives, and sentiments of anger and ‘schadenfreude’ (enjoying others’ pain) have gotten so entrenched in Pakistan that it is not only harming the country itself but the entire region.

It is true that elements within the ruling quarters in Afghanistan are doing the same, but more responsibility lies on the much bigger, stabler and more powerful Pakistan when one considers the fallouts and victims of these diplomatic hostilities on both sides. 

And, it is not only the people in war-ravaged Afghanistan who are suffering, but the millions of poor and vulnerable in Pakistan who are getting further deprived of prospects of a better life owing to misplaced priorities by the powerful few.

Just last week, when multiple rockets fell near the presidential palace in Afghanistan’s capital Kabul during the Eid day prayers and the Afghan president Ashraf Ghani and his top aides stood to continue, there was a need and opportunity for a friendly and pro-peace gesture from Pakistan towards its neighbours. Yet, the war-mongering continued in the social and mainstream media in support of the senseless war.  

It has, so far, been appalling to see Pakistan rallying behind the Taliban while it should have at least stayed on the side of the Afghan people, who are suffering the most, if it cannot courageously support the Afghan government in defending democratic values.

In the modern era, greater nations only emerge with regional support and through harmonious relations, not through hostility with its neighbours. 

Image: Andre Klimke. 

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