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Pulling the plug on Afghanistan
Global Village Space |
Ikram Sehgal |
Recent reports coming out of Washington suggest that the proposal by US National Security Adviser (NSA) Mr. MacMaster for a moderate rise in the number of US troops or their private security company substitutes has been rejected by President Trump. If this is true it would at least conform with Trump’s declared goal to put ‘America first’ and use the money that the US has kept spending in Afghanistan for the last more than 15 years to not only finance their own troops and civilian personnel but also to pull the plug on financing an unpopular Afghan government.
A so-called ‘moderate’ rise in the number of US troops would have been unlikely to bring any favorable change in any case: If the huge troop rise under the previous government did not bring the end of the Taliban insurgency, several thousand more troops wouldn’t be able to achieve that either.
Read more: The bloodbath in Afghanistan continues unabated
With China and Russia already involved in Afghanistan and the US supported peace strategies in doldrums, American withdrawal would probably give a new lease of life to peace initiatives in Afghanistan.
That is why news about possible plans about a possible alternative –a complete withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan – seems less surprising and may have a chance to succeed that they never had before. With China and Russia already involved in Afghanistan and the US supported peace strategies in doldrums, an American withdrawal would probably give a new lease of life to peace initiatives in Afghanistan.
If we remember US withdrawal from their country has been one of the main preconditions of the Taliban movement for their participation in peace talks. Such an option would also conform to the situation in the country. There is no doubt that the Taliban insurgency is far from receding; on the contrary, it is gaining support and territory by the day. Up to half of the territory of Afghanistan is today under the stable or latent rule of the movement. The Taliban have successfully readjusted to the change of leadership that was necessitated by the death of successive leaders.
Read more: The key to peace in Afghanistan: Bringing all the regional players…
Recent research into the Taliban ideology published on the web page of Afghan Analyst Network (AAN) suggests that not only leadership but Taliban ideology as well has changed and modernized during the last twenty years. Today the Taliban are more of a nationalist movement that is upholding the demand for the sovereignty of their country. Other than in the past they are more open to modern Islamic ideas.
They imagine themselves as Afghans and do not intend to extend their rule to unite the ‘Ummah’. In a 2009 statement addressed to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, the Taliban said: The IEA wants to have good and positive relations with all neighbors based on mutual respect and to open a new chapter of good neighborliness of mutual cooperation and economic development…
Read more: Kabul Process: Afghanistan’s refusing to admit the buck stops home
If the huge troop rise under the previous government did not bring the end of the Taliban insurgency, several thousand more troops wouldn’t be able to achieve that either.
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, as per its peaceful policy, wants constructive interaction with Shanghai Forum members, for permanent stability and economic development in the region on the basis of mutual respect.”
This should be a good basis for a negotiated peace within the country and for fruitful relations within the region. After a conference organized by Pugwash in Qatar last year though the Afghan government did not participate some important points were agreed upon among the participants one being the point of withdrawal of foreign troops.
Read full article.......
Pulling the plug on Afghanistan
Global Village Space |
Ikram Sehgal |
Recent reports coming out of Washington suggest that the proposal by US National Security Adviser (NSA) Mr. MacMaster for a moderate rise in the number of US troops or their private security company substitutes has been rejected by President Trump. If this is true it would at least conform with Trump’s declared goal to put ‘America first’ and use the money that the US has kept spending in Afghanistan for the last more than 15 years to not only finance their own troops and civilian personnel but also to pull the plug on financing an unpopular Afghan government.
A so-called ‘moderate’ rise in the number of US troops would have been unlikely to bring any favorable change in any case: If the huge troop rise under the previous government did not bring the end of the Taliban insurgency, several thousand more troops wouldn’t be able to achieve that either.
Read more: The bloodbath in Afghanistan continues unabated
With China and Russia already involved in Afghanistan and the US supported peace strategies in doldrums, American withdrawal would probably give a new lease of life to peace initiatives in Afghanistan.
That is why news about possible plans about a possible alternative –a complete withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan – seems less surprising and may have a chance to succeed that they never had before. With China and Russia already involved in Afghanistan and the US supported peace strategies in doldrums, an American withdrawal would probably give a new lease of life to peace initiatives in Afghanistan.
If we remember US withdrawal from their country has been one of the main preconditions of the Taliban movement for their participation in peace talks. Such an option would also conform to the situation in the country. There is no doubt that the Taliban insurgency is far from receding; on the contrary, it is gaining support and territory by the day. Up to half of the territory of Afghanistan is today under the stable or latent rule of the movement. The Taliban have successfully readjusted to the change of leadership that was necessitated by the death of successive leaders.
Read more: The key to peace in Afghanistan: Bringing all the regional players…
Recent research into the Taliban ideology published on the web page of Afghan Analyst Network (AAN) suggests that not only leadership but Taliban ideology as well has changed and modernized during the last twenty years. Today the Taliban are more of a nationalist movement that is upholding the demand for the sovereignty of their country. Other than in the past they are more open to modern Islamic ideas.
They imagine themselves as Afghans and do not intend to extend their rule to unite the ‘Ummah’. In a 2009 statement addressed to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, the Taliban said: The IEA wants to have good and positive relations with all neighbors based on mutual respect and to open a new chapter of good neighborliness of mutual cooperation and economic development…
Read more: Kabul Process: Afghanistan’s refusing to admit the buck stops home
If the huge troop rise under the previous government did not bring the end of the Taliban insurgency, several thousand more troops wouldn’t be able to achieve that either.
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, as per its peaceful policy, wants constructive interaction with Shanghai Forum members, for permanent stability and economic development in the region on the basis of mutual respect.”
This should be a good basis for a negotiated peace within the country and for fruitful relations within the region. After a conference organized by Pugwash in Qatar last year though the Afghan government did not participate some important points were agreed upon among the participants one being the point of withdrawal of foreign troops.
Read full article.......
Pulling the plug on Afghanistan
