Historically relations between Pakistan have been plagued by mistrust and misgivings. After independence Pakistan treated Afghanistan as a brotherly Muslim neighbor which had historic links with Muslims of India. But Afghanistan was the only the only country which had opposed Pakistan's entry into UN in 1947. Since then there have been brief interludes of what is called normalization of relations.  Throughout King Zahir Shah's rule, the longest in Afghanistan's history, his policy was based on antagonism. Partly the reason for this attitude was cry for acceptance of Durand Line and partly the growing Soviet influence in Afghanistan. Soviet Union never had friendly relations with Pakistan because of Pakistan's tilt towards the USA. After Zahir Shah's abdication from the throne, the subsequent rulers towed the Soviet Union's perception about Pakistan. Every Pakistani government, civil or military since independence, made consistent efforts to maintain friendly and brotherly ties with this Muslim land locked neighboring  country. It played its role in the development of Afghanistan  and provided safe passage  for its trade with the rest of world . The 9/11 changed the whole world and it left a deep impact on Pak-Afghan relations when Gen(Retired) Musharraf  decided to make Pakistan as a frontline state in America's war against terrorism. Hamid Karzai, an ethnic Pashtun of the Popalzai clan of Durranis , was a member of the Mujahideen and took active part against the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan. He was top contact of  CIA having personal contacts with CIA Director  William Casey and  the then Vice President  George H.W Bush. He became a prominent political personality after the fall of Taleban in 2001. From December 2001, Karzai had been the Chairman of the Transitional Administration, interim  president and  till 204 when he was elected President. Belligerent posture adopted by Karzai towards Pakistan is not difficult to understand with this brief historical background of the country, its leadership, deteriorating law and order situation and presence of coalition forces in Afghanistan. Afghan President Humid Karzai hurled a threat to invade Pakistan in chase of Taliban insurgents on Pakistani soil, saying his war-torn country had a right to do so out of "self-defense ." It is an attempt to divert attention from failure of the government to enforce law and order in the country and conveniently blame the neighbor for its internal problems. Karzai Government being weak  has failed to control the security situation in Afghanistan. Attacks on the Afghan and Coalition Forces , suicide bombings and roadside explosions are everyday affair. The writ of the government does not go beyond Kabul and the rest of the country is under the control of warlords . Being an American installed ruler he has been so much loyal to the USA that he practically did nothing even when innocent women and children were killed by the Coalition Forces in various incidents.  The  Afghan government is widely criticized by the people of Afghanistan for the last six years because the bombing of innocent people by Afghan and NATO forces has created resentment, especially among the rural Afghans who are the victim. The writ of the government does not go beyond Kabul and the rest of the country is under the control of warlords  The ineffectiveness of its security forces is such that Karzai's own security is in the hands of foreigners who are spending billions of dollars to quell insurgency in Afghanistan  ever since they occupied the country. The government instead of improving its own security apparatus is busy finding outside causes of its failure.  Karzai's warning to attack Pakistan came just days after US-led forces carried out an air strike in Pakistan's  tribal belt bordering Afghanistan. Washington says it was targeting militants, but Pakistan says 11 of its soldiers were killed. A few days later(July 2) Admiral Michael Mullen, Chairman of the US Joint Chief of Staff said that he was "comfortable as the top military leader" to know that he had all the authority he needed for targeting senior Al-Qaeda and Taliban leaders in Pakistan's tribal areas .He however refused to go into specifics .Whatever may be the strategy the coalition forces have so far failed to achieve their objective of defeating Taliban and other terrorists groups in Afghanistan and like Karzai they too are blaming Taliban from Pakistan for causing unrest and resistance to foreign forces. Eric Margolis of Toronto Sun summed the US strategy ,"The U.S. and its allies are edging into open warfare against Pakistan. The western occupation army in Afghanistan is unable to defeat Taliban fighters due to its lack of combat troops. The outgoing supreme commander, U.S. Gen. Dan McNeill, recently admitted he would need 400,000 soldiers to pacify Afghanistan. Unable to win in Afghanistan, the frustrated western powers are turning on Pakistan, a nation of 165 million. Pakistanis are bitterly opposed to the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan and their nation's subjugation to U.S. policy under Musharraf." The  Afghan government made the allegation that  Pakistan's ISI was involved in the failed attack on President Karzai  at a parade in Kabul in April last. The Afghan investigators, "suspect one shooter tried to call his supervisor in Pakistan from the hotel to ask for instructions because he could not get a clear shot at the president.  The documents from the suspects and their confession clearly show that Pakistan terrorist organization, ISI was behind the attack,". Fingers are not only pointed at ISI, Jalaluddin Haqqani, a Taliban's top leader is also alleged to have fomented the plot. But it may be recalled that shortly after the attack, Afghan officials suggested the attempt to kill Karzai  was the work of militants who had infiltrated Afghanistan's security forces and had ties to groups linked to Al Qaeda. So the accusing fingers were pointed in all directions instead of reviewing the failure of their own security organizations. Karzai Government has failed to control the security situation in Afghanistan. Pakistan  sharply denied that its intelligence agency was behind an attempt to assassinate the Afghan President in April, saying the accusations by Afghan officials were politically motivated.. Pakistan has publicly condemned the attempt on Karzai and added that Pakistani government had received information that the assassination attempt was part of a plot hatched by Afghan security officials, and called the incident a massive intelligence and security failure on the part of the Afghan government.  Apart from the presence of Western forces, the Indian factor in Afghanistan has its own agenda detrimental to the interests of Pakistan. Anti-Pakistan activities are planned and encouraged by the Indian consulates which have sprung up in every important town bordering Pakistan. Indian intelligence agency, RAW is operating from Afghanistan to instigate terrorist activities in Pakistan. RAW's growing presence and increase in number of Indian consulates in Afghanistan is considered as an alarming factor by Pakistan. India and Pakistan, the two neighbors, miles away from normalization of relations, have been trading accusations in the blame game  ever since independence  but now Afghanistan which has  large coalition force on its soil , has warned to invade Pakistan is a serious development in Pak-Afghan  relations. Pakistan and Afghanistan have to realize that anything beyond normalcy of relations would be harmful for both of them. Sooner than later the parleys at the highest level between the two countries would help remove  misconceptions which have led the situation to warning of invasion. The writer is a former diplomat and political analyst.