"The New Great Game"

The Great Game was an intense rivalry between the British and Russian Empires in Central Asia, beginning in the nineteenth century and continuing through 1907. Britain sought influence or control in much of Central Asia, to buffer the "crown jewel" of its empire. The classic Great Game period is generally regarded as running approximately from the Russo-Persian Treaty of 1813 to the Anglo-Russian Convention of 1907. In the post-WW2 post-colonial period, it would evolve into the Cold War era, termed "Great Game II" by some scholars.

The British perspective, the Russian Empire's expansion into Central Asia threatened to destroy the "jewel in the crown" of the British Empire, India. The British feared that Afghanistan would become a staging post for a Russian invasion of India. It was with these thoughts in mind that in 1838 the British launched the First Anglo-Afghan War and attempted to impose a puppet regime on Afghanistan under Shuja Shah.

Pakistan remains a pawn, moved around for the strategic and ideological purpose of the great power. Weather in proxy wars against Russia or against 9/11 jihadis or whoever may be the next. At best it can only rent out its military or territory, for other battles. The New Great Game is of modern geopolitics in Central Eurasia as a competition between the United States, the United Kingdom and other NATO countries against Russia. In this great game Russia, Pakistan, America plays a great role.

This game is on Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Kyrgyzstan, because they have natural resources (Oil, gas) more than any other country in the world, so many countries want to take advantage for them.   America is creating his relations strong with these countries for resources but Russia is against it. Same is the case with Russia; they are building new relations with Pakistan to avoid entry of America in these states. America wants to create a pipe line which consists of natural resources, which passes from Afghanistan, Pakistan, to India, and from Pakistan to Iran and last to Turkey.

America have start building relations with India and that can be dangerous for Pakistan, because Pakistan have to build a new relations with neighbor country India for the benefits of both countries. Now the problem is for Pakistan, if they want to be the part of the game they have to build relations with India and build strong relations with America.

Pakistan could become such a model if its fledgling democratic system succeeds. Pakistan, at this time, is deeply involved in containing the rise of Islamic extremism. One way to deal with it is to combine the use of force with accommodation. Those not prepared to work within the established legal framework must be dealt with firmly while those inclined to use the norms of democracy to advance their agendas must be given accommodation. Pakistan’s difficult political evolution is being watched by many in the Middle East. If it succeeds, it will be seen as an example to be replicated.

 However, the United States by withdrawing its support at such a critical time and forcing the new Great Game on South Asia, will unleash another dynamic that could seriously set back the Pakistani experiment.