WI: Pakistan invades Afghanistan in the 1990's.

Ak-84

Banned
WHat if in the early 90's instead of supporting the Taliban, Pakistan does what quite a few people in policy position were suggesting and invade with the aim of restoring order in the country, or at least with the aim of pacifying provinces next to Pakistan.

Pakistan had (and still had) two corps in the west ,the XI in Peshawar and the XII in Quetta and could probably provide another, the II from Multan. Thats about 200,000 men in 9 divisions plus corps troops. In addition there are nearly 100,000 FC troops who would (being all Pashtun) would no doubt take part.

Pakistan also had the advantage of knowing the terrain and the people (so many Pashtuns in its own army, including the Army Chief at the time, Kakar), as well as the numbers. OTH, we all know what happened when the Americans went in.
 
Lol, I think that the pakjabi army will be in for a royal asskicking, and that all of the population will be against such a rash move.

The FC will be next to useless in this scenario, already they are poorly equipped versus the local warriors, and their morale is bad, just look at how many of them have surrendered without a fight in the recent upheaval. The army does have lots of pashtuns yes, but I think at that point many of them are not going to want to kill their own people to satisfy some goons in Islamabad who wanted to sell out the country.
 

Ak-84

Banned
Big difference in policing you own territory and trying to Pacify a foreign. The Pakistanis will have undisputed command of the air and any area that resists is likely to be blasted, as is happening now. And unlike NATO, they will have the troop numbers.
 
Well, Afghan-Pakistani relations have been rather strained over the course of the 20th century (with Indian-Afghan relations somewhat better), so this is not entirely implausible. Heck, if the Taliban retake power in Afghanistan after the (inevitable) American withdrawal, Pakistan might be forced to go in. Barring some kind of Islamist coup in Islamabad, I just don't see the Pakistan-Taliban alliance coming back, what with the massive suicide bombings in Pakistani cities and Pakistani military operations in NWFP and FATA. Despite the media hype, most Pakistanis-and even most Pashtuns-don't want to live under a Taliban-style regime.
 
Top