In a startling revelation that reads like a geopolitical horror story, former diplomat Tilak Devasher has drawn a chilling parallel between Pakistan's past strategic decisions and Mary Shelley's classic tale of creation turning against its maker.
The Unraveling of a Strategic Gamble
During a recent interview, Devasher, a respected security analyst and former member of India's National Security Council Secretariat, detailed how Pakistan's calculated decision to cultivate extremist groups during the 1980s and 1990s has evolved into what he describes as a "Frankenstein monster" that now threatens its creator.
The Birth of a Monster
The Soviet-Afghan war era marked a pivotal turning point, according to Devasher's analysis. Pakistan, with substantial backing from Western powers including the United States, deliberately nurtured and armed mujahideen fighters to counter Soviet influence in Afghanistan.
"What began as a tactical maneuver during the Cold War," Devasher explained, "transformed into a strategic liability that continues to shape regional dynamics decades later."
The Monster Turns on Its Creator
The most dramatic manifestation of this backfired strategy emerged with the rise of the Pakistani Taliban (Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan). Unlike their Afghan counterparts who primarily focused on cross-border operations, the Pakistani Taliban turned their weapons inward, launching devastating attacks within Pakistan itself.
This represents the ultimate irony of proxy warfare - the very tools created to exert external influence have become domestic threats of unprecedented magnitude.
Regional Repercussions and Global Concerns
Devasher's warnings extend beyond Pakistan's borders, highlighting how these historical decisions continue to affect regional stability:
- The persistent strain in India-Pakistan relations, partly fueled by cross-border militancy
- Afghanistan's ongoing struggle with Taliban governance and its regional implications
- Global counterterrorism efforts complicated by the region's entrenched extremist networks
A Cautionary Tale for Global Powers
The former diplomat's analysis serves as a stark warning about the long-term consequences of short-term strategic calculations. The creation of tactical assets without considering their potential evolution into strategic threats represents a recurring pattern in international relations that continues to haunt policymakers.
As Devasher concluded, the story of Pakistan's "Frankenstein" stands as a powerful lesson in the dangers of unleashing forces that cannot be controlled - a warning that resonates far beyond South Asia's borders.
