War: Peace makers & Afghanistan

Dr Nasreen Akhtar

AFGHANISTAN has seen more war like period which not only affected Afghanistan itself but also gravely impacted Pakistani state and society. Due to its long-standing internal and external geo-strategic environment Afghanistan has always remained an important country for Pakistan. Since Pakistan and Afghanistan both share their borders they cannot disassociate themselves. Pakistan, particularly, has core and legitimate interest in stabilizing, war torn, Afghanistan. Historically, Afghanistan has never been a peaceful country and “the two longest wars fought in this region by the great powers have badly affected Pakistani society and the national security environment” and Pakistan has been part during these wars, though security strategy was different. The ongoing war 2001, is different from the last war 1979-90.The (erstwhile) Soviet Union left Afghanistan for good as it collapsed economically. But the US, yet, has not found exit to leave. President Bush Jr waged war on Afghanistan after 9/11, Obama continued and President Trump has realized that the US forces may not be able to eliminate the Taliban force. His doctrine ‘negotiating with Taliban’ would alter the regional security environment.
The current internal and external dimensions are shaping the regional security and political environment. Taliban are going to be the ‘core state actors’ and would be known as the winner in international politics who fought with single superpower, the US and never exhausted. In his statement Prime Minister Imran Khan has categorically said that “Afghanistan conflict has brought great suffering for both Afghanistan and Pakistan over the last 40 years. After a long wait, Afghanistan peace process presents a historic opportunity for peace in region” all peace-making parties — the US, Taliban and Pakistan must avail this opportunity. Pakistan is playing pivotal role in peace process, what happened in Afghanistan immensely affected Pakistan. Afghanistan’s internal political and security environment always forced Pakistan’s policy makers to play their role to secure borders and security of Pakistan knowingly that India would use Afghanistan’s soil against Pakistan “this must be the foundational idea of Pakistan’s policy towards this unfortunate country (Afghanistan – better called Ufghanistan) that has gone through three cycles of war, spanning over a period of about 40 years”.
We know that the US has spent massive amount to eliminate Taliban but failed and I believe that ‘war of economy’ has failed to change the internal landscape of Afghanistan. However, the US has contributed Afghan’s destruction more than its construction. The recent international report shows that “NATO, and security forces killed more civilians than the Taliban did”. Trump’s policy to engage Pakistan, in peace process in, Afghanistan has irked India which always exploited Afghanistan’s internal conflict and used its soil against Pakistan. President Trump had granted major role to India in Afghanistan and criticized Pakistan. But without Pakistan the dream of peace process would be a pipedream. Two things forced the US to negotiate with Taliban. One, Taliban have established a much stronger foothold than ever before, in some of the northern provinces they have pushed the national security forces off their positions and captured major areas in Afghanistan. Second reason is more troubling not only to America but also for the whole regional and international community that is the failure of Afghan’s government, and security forces which have lost their credibility and failed to curb the Taliban’s capacity despite the fact India has invested to train the Afghan’s army and security forces, but for peace, in Afghanistan, India did nothing which annoyed the Trump Administration. President Trump has questioned his own people, “Why is not Russia there (in Afghanistan, fighting the Taliban)? Why isn’t India there? Why isn’t Pakistan there? Why are we (US) there? We are 6,000 miles away”.
President Trump rebuked Pakistan through his tweets but Prime Minister Imran Khan wisely responded. Ice has melted and Pakistan welcomed Trump’s doctrine which is eventually changing regional and global political environment. The new policy shift has been a part of Trump’s ideology –“America comes first”. President Trump has calculated the cost of America’s defence of its security interests beyond its international border with Afghanistan. “The character of the force — the Taliban — the countries are fighting is the same”. Post-colonial regimes are more chaotic. There is no difference between the democratic and undemocratic regimes. Since America is a liberal, democratic and powerful state, it is its obligation to maintain peace in the world not to wage war. Peace in Afghanistan would change the politics of South Asia. This region is known as the most dangerous region in the world because of two nuclear states — India Pakistan. It seems peaceful Afghanistan would neutralize India.
Thus India has developed close ties with the US. China is a strong partner of Pakistan. China and Pakistan will benefit if peace returns to Afghanistan which is not in the interest of India. Only violent regional environment would benefit India to propagate against Pakistan which has successfully persuaded its allies- Saudi Arab and China. These states also keen in Afghanistan’s peace process and reconciliation. Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation, Zalmay Khalilzad, has appreciated Pakistan’s role in Afghanistan’s reconciliation with Taliban. In fact, the US has acknowledged Pakistan’s role and its importance. Khalilzad believes, “Peace in Afghanistan will help Pakistan-Afghanistan relations and regional connectivity. Pakistan will be a beneficiary of that”. Previously, Khalizad was known as Pakistan’s strong critic, but the current regional and global security environment impelled him and the Trump administration to rethink their old security policy.
—The writer is Assistant Professor, IIUI, Islamabad.

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