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t is not official, yet most of us are
not unaware of the shadow of
the drug trafficking on any peace
talk in the region comprising the
I north-west frontier districts of
Pakistan and Afghanistan. Both the
Afghan Talibans and Pakistan’s secret
service, the Inter-Services Intelligence
(ISI) is known to have common stakes
in this business. This worldwide illicit
trade has international connections
and ramifications.
India too is not insulated from this
nefarious drug trafficking. It has already
adversely affected the youths of the In-
dian side of Punjab having its patrons
in the state politics. Many attribute its
penetration to the growing crimes and Afghan elections
even the Islamic zealots’ intrusion into
the Pathankot cantonment. Across the
border, in the neighbouring Pakistan, it
is believed to be one of the key perenni- script new peace
al sources for the liberal funding to the
Islamic terrorists. In this backdrop it is
quite natural to harbor the apprehen-
sions about the outcome of the ongoing initiative
US-Afghan Talibans secret peace talks
in Doha.
In spite of the much opposition
from Pakistan, the newly appointed Realising the limitations of violence, Talibans now prepare for a
US ambassador, Dr. Zalmay Khalilzad, US-friendly role in its attempt to wade through the complicated
a weather-beaten diplomat of Afghan
origin, is leading the talks. For many, situation in Afghanistan, writes gopal misra
Khalilzad’s presence has diluted the Pa-
kistani role in the talks, but it may prove
beneficial to it in the longer run to en- ties, when the US and its allies had Thus, the allies turned against each
sure peace. poured in vast funds to Pakistan under other. Almost after a gap of 17 years, the
The initial success of the direct talks its military dictator, Zia-ul-Haq. Zia re- talks have begun between the US rep-
between the US representative and ligiously toed the West’s line in turning resentative and the Talibans. During
the Taliban leaders representing the Pakistan into a nursery of terrorists, this period, the Afghan farmers have
“Islamic Emirate Afghanistan” could which helped in expelling Russians evolved their own flourishing economy
be appreciated on the basis of the suc- from Afghnaistan. The Islamic terror- through the drug business. An illiterate
cess of the elections to the lower house ism helped the West to chase out Russs- Afghan farmer, who could be a local
of the Afghanistan parliament, Wolesi sian republics too. In this context, USA Taliban commander, earns a million
Jirga, on Saturday,October 20 this year. and Talibans are natural allies. The par- dollar a month from this business, what
In spite of their initial opposition to the adigm changed following the terrorists would he earn if peace returns in the
elections, Talibans did not sabotage it. attack on the twin towers in New York, country. This key question haunts both
Both the Afghan Talibans and the gov- when on the morning of September the sides. However, the optimism may
ernment in Kabul have declined to give 11, 2001, Afghanistan-based al-Qaeda be attributed to the statement of the
any role to the Russians. The President, hijackers rammed two Boeing 767 pas- Taliban’s spokesman, Ali Haj Sher Mu-
Putin’s initiative to broker peace in the senger jets in the massive buildings. hammad Abbas Stanikzai, who hopes
strife-torn country have been politely Within minutes, the towers collapsed that US accepts the “ground realities
declined by both sides. killing more than 2,600 people in and of Afghanistan and deals with the core
The Talibans’ preference for US within the vicinity of the towers, as well issues.” Earlier, Alice Wells, the State
could be traced to its inception in nine- as all 157 on board the two aircraft. Department deputy assistant secretary

Tehelka / 15 november 2018 56 www.Tehelka.com

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