The Samanid Empire, which spanned Central Asia, Iran, and Afghanistan, witnessed significant historical developments that shaped the region’s dynamics. During its reign, the king of Ghazna appointed his Turk slave, Alapati, as commander and later governor. Alapati, in turn, entrusted his own slave, Subuktigin, with the role of royal guard. Subuktigin, an astute and visionary leader, eventually took control of Ghazna. His son, Mahmud Ghazni, born in Ghazna but of Turkic descent, expanded his empire through 17 devastating raids into Hindustan, leaving a legacy of plunder. Similarly, Sultan Shahabuddin Ghori, an Iranian ruler often mistaken as Afghan, occupied both Afghanistan and Hindustan. The foundations of modern Afghanistan were laid in 1747 by Ahmed Shah Abdali, also known as Durrani, who was born in Multan and belonged to the Pashtun ethnic group. Abdali frequently invaded Hindustan, driven by a relentless greed for wealth. Historically, Afghanistan was also under Mongol control for approximately 250 years.

Afghanistan’s turbulent history is often invoked by its current regime to frame their actions, drawing parallels to historical figures who exploited the region for their gain. However, many of these figures, like Mahmud Ghazni, were not ethnically Afghan and left the land as foreign powers like the British, Americans, and Russians did, motivated by greed and a lack of loyalty to the region. Despite Afghanistan’s troubled past, Pakistan has consistently extended socio-economic support, particularly during the Soviet invasion. Under General Zia-ul-Haq’s leadership, Pakistan sent thousands of jihadis........

© The Spine Times