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Time to set things right in Afghanistan
June 24, 2011
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Solution to Afghan conflict lies in Afghanistan. It is necessary for the US and Afghan governments to start negotiating with all stakeholders in Afghanistan for long term viable peace. India’s role must be positive and specified in Afghanistan. Afghan soil should never be used against Pakistan. In any dialogue process, regional countries should also be consulted. China, Russia, central Asian states, Iran and Pakistan can play a key role in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Afghanistan.
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After spending 443 billion US dollars in Afghanistan and almost 2,530 military casualties since 9/11; the US-led alliance is seeking a peaceful resolution of the Afghan conflict. After 10 years of bloody war, renewed efforts are afoot for reconciliation and dialogue with Taliban, as America could not win war in Afghanistan with the use of military force. The concern for Pakistan is that, when America is looking for reconciliation and dialogue with Taliban, why it wants Pakistan to carry out operations in North Waziristan Agency? When the policy of surge has failed in Afghanistan, why America wants Pakistan to try such a failed policy in our tribal belt? Why can’t Pakistan carry out dialogue with the tribes in FATA?
It seems that the US wants to isolate Pakistan and deny it any considerable role in the future of Afghanistan. Sidelining Pakistan will not benefit either party. Pakistan wants stable and prosperous Afghanistan. It would support any political breakthrough in Afghanistan.
America has been following a double policy from last few years. The US-led alliance had been engaged in military operations against Taliban, but also wanted to continue dialogue and reconciliation process. The US defence secretary, Robert Gates, said that direct contacts were underway between the US and the Taliban. Such an assertion shows change and realization in the US policy that Taliban cannot be just sidelined or overwhelmed with military might. There must be some political way out.
There had been many rounds of negotiations with Taliban representatives. The first meeting was in Qatar, a few months back. Other two meetings took place in Germany. Direct talks have taken off between US officials and a credible representative of the Taliban, Tayyab Agha, formerly Mullah Omar's personal assistant. It is still unclear whether Tayyab Agha is the true representative of Taliban or not and whether he exercises any control over decision making of Taliban?
It is early to conclude any result of such talks. It will be difficult for the US to clear the mess of last 10 years in such talks. It is not clear whether these talks are meant for Taliban only or if they also include other warring groups like Haqqani Network and Hekmatyar group. Is America playing divide and rule game in Afghanistan? If this is the case then it won’t be possible for Americans to achieve their goals. America has to take all warring groups onboard, at least Haqqani and Hekmatyar group, only then future political setup of Afghanistan can be decided.
To build confidence, the US has to take some concrete steps. First of all US-led alliance must seize military operations in Afghanistan, secondly US must separate Taliban from Al-Qaeda, and thirdly removal of the names of Taliban from UN terror list. So far America had taken two important steps in the recent past: first, removal of 20 Taliban leaders’ names from the UN terror list, and secondly, introducing a resolution to separate Taliban from Al-Qaeda. Such steps would work as confidence building measures as far as reconciliation and dialogue process with Taliban is concerned.
Other than that, in December 2011, almost representatives of 90 nations and international organizations will assemble at Bonn, Germany, to discuss the future of Afghanistan and come up with some viable solution to Afghan impasse. It is expected that US withdrawal plan, political future and reconciliation process in Afghanistan will be the focus of Bonn conference in December. Taliban’s representation in the Bonn conference would be a good omen, because Taliban are a reality and they cannot be just ignored in any future settlement of Afghanistan. It is imperative for the international community to include Taliban in the Bonn conference 2011 and not repeat the mistake of ignoring them in previous Bonn conference ten years ago.
Solution to Afghan conflict lies in Afghanistan. It is necessary for the US and Afghan governments to start negotiating with all stakeholders in Afghanistan for long term viable peace. India’s role must be positive and specified in Afghanistan. Afghan soil should never be used against Pakistan. In any dialogue process, regional countries should also be consulted. China, Russia, central Asian states, Iran and Pakistan can play a key role in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Afghanistan.
In last 30 years, Afghanistan has faced bloodshed, mayhem and turmoil; people of Afghanistan and Pakistan are fed up now of such uncertainty. They want to live in peace. They want security, health facilities, education, jobs and development.
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