Yankee-stani
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Iran has officially confirmed holding talks with the Taliban. Indeed, a visiting delegation was in Tehran over the weekend. Before that, Iranian government officials had paid a trip to Kabul. The US response to this has oscillated between hostility and reluctant acknowledgement that Tehran seeks a stable Afghanistan.
Of course, it would be an exaggeration to argue that everyone welcomes this development. Yet sectarian differences aside, Iran considers itself well-positioned to drag the Taliban to the Kabul negotiating table. After all, it contends, there are still those within the group who have not forgotten this country’s tilt towards Washington in the GWOT and therefore view Islamabad as an untrustworthy ally. A fact that the Americans persist in overlooking as they call on Pakistan to do more, more, more to secure the Afghan quagmire of their own making.
US-based pundits are already using the ‘threat’ of Iranian engagement in Afghanistan as a reason for Trump Town to rethink its anticipated military drawdown. For instead of recognising this as assuaging fears of American strikes on its nuclear sites — the consensus appears to be that this would deliver Tehran undue advantage in terms of regional influence. Thereby possibly explaining the resurgence of accusations of Iran funding the Taliban; while providing training and weapons. If true, this begs the question as to why the US failed to impose sanctions on Tehran for this alleged misdemeanour; preferring instead to punish the regime for playing by the nuclear rulebook. Something somewhere does not add up.
When seen through Pakistani eyes, it makes not much sense for the Americans to weigh up the drawdown with potential Iranian geo-political gains. Not if the goal of stabilising Afghanistan is a serious one. For Islamabad has long maintained that US withdrawal holds the key to regional peace. In fact, this is the only Taliban precondition for talking to Kabul. And if the latter are to form part of a new government it is prudent for the group to make overtures to as many neighbouring countries as possible. Indeed, the Taliban opened an office in the eastern Iranian city of Zahedan as far back as 2012; one year before the Doha office.
To many, including Iran in the tentative peace process demonstrates pragmatism and a plan for the near future. This is something that the US should, by rights, welcome. Particularly as it represents an opportunity for Tehran and Riyadh to put their differences aside for a shared goal. Pakistan must do all it can to ensure that this goes as smoothly as possible. After all, the last thing that this country needs is the risk of being drawn into another proxy war. Yet truth be told, it will likely not take too much pressure to get the Iranians and Saudis to join hands for Afghan peace. It is in the regional interest. And all the important players from this neck of the woods, including China, Russia and India, enjoy warm ties with both. Only the US refuses to play ball on this front.
Thus it is important to note that Taliban-Iranian talks were conducted in the full knowledge of the Kabul government. Indeed, it should also be duly recalled that Tehran is credited with playing an instrumental role in helping form the first post-Taliban regime at the 2001 Bonn Conference. This is not to mention the Chabahar port project that serves Iran, Afghanistan and India. In other words, this neighbourhood is already inching towards a collective and inclusive peace. And it has recognised that for this to truly happen — Iran must be part and parcel of the equation. The question is now left to the US as to whether it is ready to get on board. For, bluntly put, being the last obstacle to the reconciliation process is not an option. *
Published in Daily Times, January 1st 2019
Source-Daily Times
Of course, it would be an exaggeration to argue that everyone welcomes this development. Yet sectarian differences aside, Iran considers itself well-positioned to drag the Taliban to the Kabul negotiating table. After all, it contends, there are still those within the group who have not forgotten this country’s tilt towards Washington in the GWOT and therefore view Islamabad as an untrustworthy ally. A fact that the Americans persist in overlooking as they call on Pakistan to do more, more, more to secure the Afghan quagmire of their own making.
US-based pundits are already using the ‘threat’ of Iranian engagement in Afghanistan as a reason for Trump Town to rethink its anticipated military drawdown. For instead of recognising this as assuaging fears of American strikes on its nuclear sites — the consensus appears to be that this would deliver Tehran undue advantage in terms of regional influence. Thereby possibly explaining the resurgence of accusations of Iran funding the Taliban; while providing training and weapons. If true, this begs the question as to why the US failed to impose sanctions on Tehran for this alleged misdemeanour; preferring instead to punish the regime for playing by the nuclear rulebook. Something somewhere does not add up.
When seen through Pakistani eyes, it makes not much sense for the Americans to weigh up the drawdown with potential Iranian geo-political gains. Not if the goal of stabilising Afghanistan is a serious one. For Islamabad has long maintained that US withdrawal holds the key to regional peace. In fact, this is the only Taliban precondition for talking to Kabul. And if the latter are to form part of a new government it is prudent for the group to make overtures to as many neighbouring countries as possible. Indeed, the Taliban opened an office in the eastern Iranian city of Zahedan as far back as 2012; one year before the Doha office.
To many, including Iran in the tentative peace process demonstrates pragmatism and a plan for the near future. This is something that the US should, by rights, welcome. Particularly as it represents an opportunity for Tehran and Riyadh to put their differences aside for a shared goal. Pakistan must do all it can to ensure that this goes as smoothly as possible. After all, the last thing that this country needs is the risk of being drawn into another proxy war. Yet truth be told, it will likely not take too much pressure to get the Iranians and Saudis to join hands for Afghan peace. It is in the regional interest. And all the important players from this neck of the woods, including China, Russia and India, enjoy warm ties with both. Only the US refuses to play ball on this front.
Thus it is important to note that Taliban-Iranian talks were conducted in the full knowledge of the Kabul government. Indeed, it should also be duly recalled that Tehran is credited with playing an instrumental role in helping form the first post-Taliban regime at the 2001 Bonn Conference. This is not to mention the Chabahar port project that serves Iran, Afghanistan and India. In other words, this neighbourhood is already inching towards a collective and inclusive peace. And it has recognised that for this to truly happen — Iran must be part and parcel of the equation. The question is now left to the US as to whether it is ready to get on board. For, bluntly put, being the last obstacle to the reconciliation process is not an option. *
Published in Daily Times, January 1st 2019
Source-Daily Times
