Page 59 - 15MAR2019E

Foreign aFFairs

• Not ready Afghanistan is not yet ready to run
its affairs without foreign protection

conditions attached, cannot be called
a welcome development. This will
amount to throwing the people of the
land-locked country to wolves. Anyone
who argues that let Afghanistan be
governed by Afghans with no foreign
forces remaining there under the
prevailing circumstances is either not
fully aware of the existing reality or
that person is not a well-wisher of the
Afghans.
Is Afghanistan ready for being
allowed to run its affairs without any
international protective shield? The
question cannot be answered in the
affirmative as there is no end to suicide
bombings by various Taliban factions.
First of all, violence must come to an
end as proof that the Taliban factions
have left their destructive path. Only
then should the US forces leave that
country. This would be quite logical as
only then will peace and progress get negotiations at a time and place where needed. The US, however, remains
the required opportunities to change he too would be present. unmoved, giving little thought to the
the destiny of the Afghans for good. There appeared to be another reaction of those who do not feel com-
While a heated debate is on about reason for the Islamabad talks getting fortable with its Afghanistan policy.
the likely fallout of the US decision, cancelled. The Afghanistan govern- The time has come for the influen-
the scheduled talks with the Taliban in ment expressed its strong resentment tial world capitals not convinced with
Islamabad have been called off owing against the friendly treatment being the US policy moves on extremism
to the extremist movement’s plea that accorded to the Taliban negotiators and terrorism to formulate a strategy
some of its representatives would not despite they being known forces of to suppress such forces active in the
be able to reach the Pakistani capital death and destruction. The Taliban fac- Af-Pak region. Depending on Pakistan
owing to the curbs imposed on them tions continue to ruthlessly use their for the success of such a strategy will
by the US and the UN still remaining muscle power to make people toe their be hoping against hope owing to its
intact. Now the talks would be held in extremist line. disappointing record on handling
Doha, the Qatari capital, where one It is surprising why the US adminis- the problem. Islamabad has only one
round of negotiations has already been tration is so hell bent on placating the interest in the case of Afghanistan — to
held. Taliban and holding dialogue with the use it for having the strategic depth it
Before the cancelled Islamabad extremist movement’s representatives has always been looking for.
talks Taliban representatives were when there is strong opposition to this India needs to convince the global
called to Moscow for a similar peace move in a section of the US admin- community that the culture of violent
dialogue. The event planned in Is- istration too as proved by Defence extremism can be eliminated if the
lamabad remained stillborn perhaps Secretary James Mattis’ resignation. Afghans are made to develop their
because it coincided with two major When the Trump administration’s stake in economic growth and stability.
developments — the Pulwama terror- controversial decision was announced India’s increasing popularity among
ist killings and Saudi Prince Moham- last December many experts expressed the Afghans after its massive invest-
med bin Salman’s visit to Pakistan. the view that it would be impossible for ment in Afghanistan’s reconstruction
The death of 40 CRPF personnel in the the US to honour its commitments in shows that the masses in that country
Pulwama incident created an atmos- Afghanistan like providing training to can be weaned away from violence by
phere in which the Saudi leader might Afghan national forces and conduct- spurring economic activity there.
have expressed his displeasure to allow ing air campaigns against the Taliban
the Taliban to take part in any kind of and other militant groups as and when letters@tehelka.com

Tehelka / 15 march 2019 59 www.Tehelka.com