Pakistan To Support Afghanistan


 Imran Khan

Image source: Kremlin.ru, CC BY 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons



You’ll recall that I’ve been writing about how Afghanistan, under the leadership of the Taliban, is careening toward an economic and humanitarian disaster. I have said that someone needs to step up and do something.


Well, someone has. Specifically Pakistan. Last month, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan signed off on a $30 million aid package for the Afghan people.* That is a very good thing, though it probably isn’t enough to save Afghanistan from the trials they’ll be facing in winter.


Why did Pakistan open its purse? Well, obviously, there are humanitarian motivations. And, also, let’s face it, Pakistan has been supporting the Taliban for decades. Now, the Pakistanis are protecting their investment. 


And, maybe, protecting their own borders. They last thing they want is an angry, hungry horde next door.


But, saving countries is not cheap. Thirty million is not a whole lot in the modern world, but it is may be more than Pakistan would like to spend. It does have other, pressing needs.


Which means that Pakistan may be just discovering how expensive “victory” can really be.



~mjt



Source:


“Pakistani PM Signs Off On Afghan-Assistance Package,” November 22, 2021, Gandhara, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, https://gandhara.rferl.org/a/pakistan-khan-afghan-assistance/31573859.html

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