Source: International
With
the Russian threat to cut land routes for supply to Nato troops in
Afghanistan, the Afghan battleground may turn into a cold deathtrap for
Nato, defence analysts believe. They say that Pakistan should utilise
the opportunity for a peaceful and prosperous Pakistan by pulling it out
of the American war.
Russia has threatened to cut off Nato supply
routes to Afghanistan if the alliance doesn’t compromise on its missile
defence plans. “If Nato doesn’t give a serious response, we have to
address matters in relations in other areas,” Russian news services
reported. Russia’s cooperation on Afghanistan may be an area for review,
the news services reported.
Pakistan has already cut the Nato
supply route after the Mohmand Agency attack by Nato troops that killed
twenty-six Pakistani soldiers.
Lieutenant General (r) Hameed Gul
while talking to The News said that Russia would utilise every option to
take revenge from the Americans and time has come for the Russians to
do this. He said that Russia wants to join hands with Pakistan and
Pakistan should reconsider its policy towards Russia. “Americans and
Nato troops have been strangled in Afghanistan and time has come for
Pakistan to avail the opportunity that it missed on 9/11 to regain the
respect and sovereignty”, Gul said.
He mentioned that Americans
will have to leave Afghanistan and will ask for concessions and Pakistan
should negotiate with them for their exit. If Russia cuts the supply
then the route will be from Georgia to Baku and then to Azerbaijan,
which means NATO will never get the supply, said Gul. “Now Nato troops
will have to exit Vietnam style, and that too by using Pakistan’s
airspace because Iran will never let USA use its airspace”, the retired
general said. He mentioned that the war against terror that was started
with our own people will come to an end at once and there will be peace
in no time once the Americans leave Afghanistan. He said that Indian
interests in Afghanistan were growing but India will get nothing from
Afghanistan.
Maria Sultan, defence analyst, while talking to this
correspondent said that if the Russians also cut the supply line of Nato
then it will turn out to be cold death for Nato troops. “They will
literally be strangled in Afghanistan with 90,000 troops and as they
admit that they have reserves for three months which actually means they
have reserves for two months and then Nato will have to airlift the
troops and during the airlift only 15 to 20 percent can be alive out of
the 90,000 troops”, Maria said.
She mentioned that in Afghanistan,
everything comes from outside and the insurgency this year has been
very high as 700 causalities have been reported. Therefore after the
Russian decision, Afghanistan will turn into a reverse Kargil for
Nato. “They will have weapons but no bullets to fire; and if Pakistan
shuts the air corridors on Nato then it would be a cold death for them
and America will have to renegotiate with Pakistan”, she said.
