India had continued its arms buildup through barter with the Soviet Union at prices onefifth the world level. India took advantage of the Cold War and did nothing in the battle against Soviet communism. Pakistan paid a heavy price for its stand in the Afghan war. providing relief for 3.5 million refugees. The country sustained environmental damage. increased narcotics traffic. and emergence of a mafia. Bombings. presumably by Afghan or Soviet terrorists. averaged two or three daily. The 1988 Geneva Accords did not end Afghanistans internal strife. and 1.5 million Afghan refugees were still in Pakistan. though they would eventually return to their homeland. Pakistan had furnished 10.000 troops in the Persian Gulf War and had played a role in Cambodia and Somalia. If Americans were now less interested in Pakistan. they ignored not only that countrys proud role in the defense of freedom but also its vital geopolitical position: If the territory of the five neighboring Central Asian republics were added to Iran. the area would constitute the second largest hydrocarbon reserve in the world.
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refugees