Page 58 - 15MAR2019E

column
ASIAN DRAMA
Syed
NooruzzamaN
The columnist — former
Deputy Editor of The
Tribune, Chandigarh —
specialises in foreign
affairs. With a career
spanning 41 years, he
keeps close watch on
issues related to South
Asian countries. The
views expressed are
personal
Taliban still controls
half of Afghanistan.
What will, therefore,
happen when the
Afghan security
forces will have to
manage the situation
on their own can
easily be imagined
US troops pullout may
hurt Afghanistan more
Any peace initiative seeking Afghanistan going back into the hands
of the Taliban at this stage when violence is refusing to die down will
amount to throwing the people of the land-locked country to wolves
he US decision to withdraw the drive it had launched for eliminat-
50 per cent of its troops in ing terrorism root and branch? These
Afghanistan (7,000 out of and many other such questions come
the total 14,000 fighters) to one’s mind when one visualises the
and facilitate the Taliban’s dangerous consequences of the US
T induction into the govern- policy shift?
ment in Kabul does not appear to be in That is why the world was stunned
the interest of peace in the war-ravaged when the Trump administration made
nation as well as the world at large. The its decision known a few weeks back.
brief explanation that the stage has Most foreign affairs experts are con-
come when the Donald Trump admin- vinced that the departure of the US
istration wants the Afghans to depend forces from Afghanistan with their
more on their own security forces than unfinished task will embolden extrem-
those from foreign lands is meaningless ists wherever they are.
in view of the fact that the Afghan Na- The Trump administration’s illogical
tional Army has proved to be too weak decision is being interpreted as a victory
to make the Ashraf Ghani government’s for the Taliban and defeat for the drive
writ run all over the country. to end terrorism once and for all. Under
The Taliban even now control almost the circumstances, extremist forces
half of Afghanistan. What will, there- are bound to draw inspiration from the
fore, happen when the Afghan security Taliban to convince their cadres to re-
forces will have to manage the situation main busy with their destructive agenda
on their own can easily be imagined. without losing hope whatever difficul-
The chaotic situation may re-emerge ties they may face as ultimately they are
as was seen when the country had a going to get crowned with success! How
Taliban dispensation in the late nine- sad! The Pulwama terrorist strike, which
ties. There may be some change in the resulted in the death of over 40 CRPF
style of governance when the elected personnel and injuries to many, needs
Afghanistan regime has a Taliban rep- to be viewed against this backdrop.
resentation but not as much as would hold celebrations once the last US sol-
Extremists all over the world may
be required to ensure that the country
ceases to remain a nursery for violent dier finally leaves Afghanistan. This has
extremism as it has been. been the top item on Taliban’s charter of
Can the US and the rest of the
demands ever since they started getting
world afford it after investing billions messages from the Trump administra-
of dollars with a huge loss of human tion for reconciliation and abandoning
the path of violence to become a part of
lives during the 17 plus years after the
invasion of Afghanistan in the wake of the political dispensation in Kabul. Anti-
the nine-eleven terrorist strike on the India extremist masterminds could not
American mainland? Can the world feel ask for more.
safe in such a scenario? Will it not be Afghanistan going back into the hands
Thus, any peace initiative seeking
an indirect admission of the US policy
failure when it has decided to abandon of the Taliban at this stage, even with
Tehelka / 15 march 2019 58 www.Tehelka.com