At the height of his 'power', General Pervez Musharraf decided to join USA, in their War on Afghanistan, in 2001 and invited a cross section of the political leaders, the civil and military bureaucrats, some intellectuals and analysts, the basic objective being to explain the 'logic' of his decision. I was also invited with one such group. After a long monologue spreading over three hours, he solicited my views.  I said: "This is not our war, because it is immoral, unconstitutional, and unethical, as we have no enmity with the people of Afghanistan. They have done no harm to us." I further added: "Taliban would not be defeated. They would withdraw to regroup and re-organise themselves for the final victory till every occupation soldier was ousted from the soil of Afghanistan. I made it very explicit; "that after the occupation of Afghanistan, the war will spill over into our tribal areas, compelling us to fight in our own territory. It will then be our war, with serious consequences. And the worst that could happen in its wake that joining the war, would amount to bartering away the blood of our martyrs - a sin of such magnitude that, Allah will never forgive us." Musharraf was dumb-founded. He said something, which I could not comprehend. This proved to be my last meeting with him. Has this war, really become our war? Let us examine. During the past 28 years, the global and regional events have left indelible imprints on the freedom struggle of Afghanistan and on the adjoining border regions of Pakistan. The aggression by USA has caused the death of more than five million innocent Muslims in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran and Iraq alone, in pursuit of American doctrine of global primacy and pre-eminence. As a consequence, there emerged the Islamic Resistance, opposing such aggression and in so doing it has drawn the new contours of global power equation. The dismantling of the Soviet Empire in 1989 ignited the urge in the USA to preside over the affairs of the world single-handedly. But this dream got shattered, within a short span of 15 years, which is analogous to the grand ambitions of Hitler's concept of Lebensraum - proclaiming 'Germans, the superior race, as the legitimate rulers of the world'. The only difference being that all the powers of the world then united to defeat Hitler's hegemonic ambitions. In the case of USA, it is the Islamic Resistance, the only opposition, the ill-equipped foot soldiers, operating as "shadow armies led by committed believers," which has proved detrimental to USA's imperial ambitions - The Islamic Resistance created with the courtesy of the United States, against the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan "were more than sixty thousand mujahideen fighters, drawn from seventy countries of the world." Another forty thousand came from Pakistan. This Islamic Resistance since has accomplished incredible feat of defeating the American dream of Greater Israel and the design to restructure the Greater Middle East. It broke the myth of invincibility of Israel after a humiliating military debacle in Lebanon. It has humbled the Americans in Iraq, European Union and USA in Afghanistan. All the great aggressors of the world have been contained and defeated. They are freedom fighters, not terrorists, as the West would make us believe, although some terrorist elements have entered into their ranks, who are distinct by their heinous acts of crime and terror. It would therefore, be a realistic appraisal of the global order that, it is no more Unipolar. Instead, a Tripolar Global Order is in the offing. Russia and China though not physically involved in this encounter, yet they are part of the confrontation in Afghanistan, where USA, Europe and India, in deep collusion, are preparing for the final round, in order to retain Afghanistan. By the end of the next year hundred and fifty thousand Indian troops will also be deployed in Afghanistan, as a clear testimony to the fact that the great contest for the control of Afghanistan, will take place between USA - Europe-India; China and Russia. The Islamic Resistance will be the main arbiter. Pakistan is very much in the throes of the gathering storm in Afghanistan. In October 2001, when we joined the so-called War On Terror, it was not our war, but gradually, USA, India, their allies and particularly the Afghan government, have turned the tide of war against Pakistan. The Foreign Minister of Afghanistan Rangin Dadfar, who spent 14 years in India and remained associated with the activities of RAW, it was his idea that the war must be reversed on Pakistan, so that it's army remained pitted against its own people. They have succeeded in their manipulations. Now it is our war, because we are fighting terrorist groups inducted into our territory. Our tribals have suffered as a result of this infighting and have risen to fight against them, in support of the army. It is a sad story, as to how, our enemies succeeded in making such deep inroads into our border regions, which has caused so much of trouble and turmoil. In places like Swat, the writ of the government was lost, which compelled the government to use military force. Such a situation was allowed to develop, because General Pervez Musharraf had given an open license to CIA, FBI and the US Special Forces, to freely operate in the tribal areas between Swat, Waziristan and Balochistan. Some special facilities and privileges were also granted to them for example, at Tarbela, they had a very elaborate set-up of CIA, FBI and their special forces. Similarly in Balochistan, their support bases were developed at Dalbandin, Kot Kalmat and Jewani. In the Marriott Hotel Islamabad, a Controlling Cell was established. While USA enjoyed full liberty in our tribal areas, own intelligence agencies, ISI and MI were ordered to keep away. Instead they worked as gestapo to catch hold of own people and hand them over to our enemies. But a change occurred when General Musharraf had to doff his uniform, and the new army chief took over and the newly elected government was formed, who were in full knowledge as to what was happening and directed the intelligence agencies to enter the forbidden areas and gain access. It was on this account that the conflict of interest occurred, and the new government in Pakistan was asked, as to 'who had given permission to ISI and MI to operate in those areas'. Under pressure, the government issued orders that ISI would work under the Ministry of Interior, but were cancelled the same day. As a result of the previous government's policy, during the past few years, the Americans had enjoyed free access to establish their support groups in Pakistan, assisted by their intelligence network in Afghanistan, and succeeded in enlisting the support of the tribals through massive bribes, supply of weapons and equipment. They specially succeeded in Swat and Balochistan and limited success in the areas of Bajaur and Waziristan. It is on this account that missile attacks and spy plans are operating mainly in Bajaur and Waziristan areas. From Swat to Balochistan, a buffer zone, astride the Durand Line has thus been created. In the province of Kunar, USA is constructing a large military base, astride the Kabul River, and to ensure its safety, it was deemed necessary to create a 'Security Zone' in the adjoining areas of Pakistan. If the US forces were to help Pakistan, they should have launched missile attacks against the militants in Swat area, but attacks are being made in Waziristan area, which shows the duplicity of the US policy and their intent. We are in a state of war in our border region and our army and the air force are operating against those very elements, who have infiltrated into Pakistan. We have to fight this war, not out of our volition but compulsion. This requires a well-conceived strategy and change in our orientation. In order to achieve our objectives and reach a logical end of this unwarranted war, we must initiate dialogue. The elected representatives should be included in the dialogue processes, who wield considerable influence on their people. By the end of this year, when a new president of USA will assume his office, there will be a change in the policies. It would be prudent on their part to withdraw forces from Iraq and Afghanistan, yet, if they decide to stay, they will be inviting trouble. If India decides to deploy 150,000 soldiers in Afghanistan, it would be their sheer bad luck. The Afghans would be waiting for them for a grand welcome. A sizeable force of jihadies from Chechnya, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan has entered into Afghanistan, preparing for the final round. No doubt it is the Russian vendetta of their defeat in Afghanistan. They did the arm twisting in Georgia, their 'right flank', and now 'the hammer' will fall, on the 'left flank', in Afghanistan. Looking at the perspective, Pakistani nation need not be perturbed. The Islamic Resistance is fully deployed to take care of our adversaries. History is taking a new turn, demanding re-orientation of our policies towards USA, India and Kashmir, where the struggle is in its final stage. After the defeat of Israel in Lebanon, the Palestinians are destined to get their right. Similarly, the Kashmiris will get the fruits of their struggle after the Indian impending defeat in Afghanistan. The economic melt-down and a strong public opinion emerging in USA and Europe for a free Palestinian State; to quit Iraq and Afghanistan and befriend the Iranians. The importance of Israel has reduced and the interest is now focused on India, as the surrogate to protect American interests in the region. The moment of decision has come in Afghanistan. The battle lines are drawn for the final round.  United States invaded Iraq and Afghanistan to bring freedom. Instead they enslaved them. "Freedom is an indivisible word. If we want to enjoy it, and fight for it, we must be prepared to extend it to every one" - W Lewis. The writer is a former chief of army staff E-mail: fr786pak@isb.comsats.net.pk