Page 47 - 31OCT2019E

Foreign aFFairs

of this fact, it is believed that
Trump was, perhaps, looking
for an excuse to snap the nego-
tiations and he got such an op-
portunity when an American
soldier was killed along with 11
others in a suicide bomb attack
on September 5.
Trump announced his deci-
sion through a series of tweets
after the Taliban accepted re-
sponsibility for their involve-
ment in the heinous act. In one
of his tweets, he said, “If they
cannot agree to a ceasefire
during these very important
peace talks, and would even
kill 12 innocent people, then
they probably don’t have the
power to negotiate a meaning-
ful agreement anyway.”
Whether Trump will review
his decision in the interest of
peace and stability in Afghani-
stan and the rest of the region
tactics to force Washington to accept likely to be finally signed at Camp remains to be seen. But history will
their demand that no foreign troop David, Maryland (US), but President remember him as a far-sighted head
should remain on the Afghan soil once Trump appeared to be unsure of of government if he allows the peace
an accord was signed between the two the calculated gains from the eight- dialogue to reach its logical conclusion.
sides. month-long exercise when there was Signing an accord despite the
The US, which was tolerating no end to the Taliban’s killing spree. provocations to the contrary would
Taliban suicide bombings as the cost to Hence his decision to call of the talks. be a better option than going back to
pay for a larger goal, had declared that There was undeniably a huge trust where the situation was over eight
the promised troop withdrawal did not gap between the two sides. In view months ago when the peace negotia-
mean complete desertion in one go of tions were initiated.
the land they had captured in 2001 in The militant group stated after the
the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks snapping of the dialogue, “The US cred-
on the US mainland. The US wanted Even if there is a clear ibility will be harmed; their anti-peace
8000 of its 14000 troops to stay put winner, the new govt stance will become more visible to the
and its armed forces had to leave for world; their casualties and financial
home only after successful conclusion will be there only in losses will increase, and the US role in
of the peace negotiations in the Qatari name. The de facto international political interaction will
capital, Doha. be discredited even further.”
The Trump strategy included rulers of Afghanistan, The Taliban, of course, are no great
periodic troop withdrawal, which the powerful diplomats. They were believed to be
appeared to be unacceptable to the knowing only the language of violence
Taliban. But they had willy-nilly agreed Taliban factions, to achieve their objectives. But now
to this condition along with giving an they are providing proof that they are
assurance to eschew violence and not who boycotted the not bad negotiators. Perhaps, they now
to allow any foreign terrorist group elections, have realise that diplomacy must be given
like the Al-Qaida and the IS to use any a full chance to bring about peace in
part of Afghanistan for indulging in declared that for a country which has not seen it for
destructive activities after the signing them the new govt decades.
of an agreement. The negotiations had
almost concluded and an agreement will be a US puppet letters@tehelka.com

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