Peace Panel discusses U.S. involvement with Pakistan, Afghanistan

The speakers presented possible solutions for conflict in the countries.

By Katie Moritz

Published May 8, 2009

Mid-Missouri Peaceworks hosted an Afghanistan-Pakistan Peace Panel to discuss the U.S. presence in Afghanistan and Pakistan on Thursday night.

"The United States has become more involved militarily," said Jeff Stack, coordinator of the Mid-Missouri Fellowship of Reconciliation, one of 20 organizations within the Columbia Peace Coalition. "That seems like the path our nation seems intent to go upon, and we'd like to revisit and reconsider that path."

Stack said the fellowship is concerned about the escalating U.S. occupation in Afghanistan. Drone attacks, bombings by unmanned, remote controlled aircrafts, are the cause of many deaths in Pakistan.

"It's a way to minimize U.S. casualties but its angering leaders in Pakistan," Stack said.

He said almost 700 Pakistanis have been killed in U.S. drone attacks; the intended target was only hit in 10 out of 60 cases.

In addition to Stack, MU political science professor Paul Wallace and graduate journalism student Sarah Khan, a Pakistani student who spent two years as national editor of the Daily Times in Lahore, were also on the panel. The overall issue discussed was the U.S. military presence in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and if it will lessen or increase tension and violence in those areas.

Khan sees drone attacks as a good strategy because it is the only way to target the militants who threaten the Pakistani people.

"When they see America targeting inside Pakistan, they tend to see America as the enemy, but when they see the Pakistan army conducting those, they see the Taliban as the enemy," Khan said.

She said the most effective way the U.S. can help Afghanistan is the presence of troops because the government would be too fragile on its own.

Wallace sees the problem as three-fold, with the military, government and international arena at fault.

He said the Pakistan and Afghanistan militaries suffer from the same problem - they do not have enough direction or a clear-cut mission.

"The government is a problem in that it came to power in a free democratic election after a period of military rule," Wallace said. "The parties that won the election really have to cooperate or Pakistan cannot deal with their problems."

Khan spoke to the importance of empowering the people of Pakistan.

"The main problems Pakistan is facing are illiteracy, poverty and economic backwardness."

Khan said 90 percent of Pakistani people are living in abject poverty, and the government is unstable because of economic strife.

Stack said this warmonger attitude has manifested itself in the U.S. since World War II. He said he would rather see our government reach out in positive, life-giving ways to Pakistan and Afghanistan.

"I would love to see President Obama speak in terms of letting us try to get water to all people in Afghanistan, let us support efforts to build schools," Stack said.

He said the U.S. is seen as a bully in the world arena.

"We are seen as the enemy, and I can't blame them quite frankly," Stack said. "I see us being an imperialist force and an invading force."

Stack said the main goal of occupation in the Middle East is maintaining a hold on natural resources.

Khan agreed everyone would benefit if peace were instilled in the Middle East. She said one of the best ways of doing this would be working on economic development and empowering people.

Stack said U.S. citizens could help the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan by putting pressure on Obama to look at alternatives to warfare.