There have been
meteoric changes not only on the Afghan political landscape recently but also
on the battleground Afghanistan. It has been finally confirmed that Mullah Omar
passed away two years ago and there is a change at the top with Mullah Akhtar
Mansoor taking over the reins.
Also, it seems that the US has been unable to
make up its mind to leave Afghanistan in the presence of the emerging threat of
Daesh, which is a far deadlier force than the Taliban.
Moreover, the Ashraf Ghani government,
whatever precarious state it may be in, has so far survived internal threats.
Then, the Murree round of peace talks between the Afghan government and the
Taliban apparently heralded a new era of negotiations that may finally end up
in long-sought-after peace in the country.
What nonetheless seems to be missing is a new
and positive mindset among the Afghan politicians and bureaucratic circles
towards the new emerging changes that in all probability are here to stay.
It is apparent that the old Afghan frame of
mind in Kabul has to give way to a positive attitude that should encompass and
comprehend the regional situation in its true perspective. The lingering
mistrust should give way to affirmative action, helpful and encouraging
developments.
The Afghan army
chief’s recent visit to Pakistan and his presiding over the passing-out parade
in Kakul was no run of the mill feat; it signaled a deep-seated and fundamental
new approach by Islamabad towards the Afghan government based on positive
action.
For one thing, Hamid Karzai, the former Afghan
president, instead of criticising the improving relations between Afghanistan
and Pakistan, should help resolve the irritants and nuisances he failed to
address during his long era of presidency.
Instead of
displaying political opportunism, he should help the beleaguered national unity
government of President Ghani move towards lasting peace in the country instead
of harbouring political rivalries and mounting anti-Pakistan propaganda.
It is time the Afghan bureaucracy and
government circles adopted a constructive approach not based on blaming
Pakistan for the terror attacks in their country, discouraging cross border
militancy, ending sanctuaries to terrorists like Mullah Fazlullah involved in
killing thousands of people on the Pakistan side of the border besides other
measures.
Also, it would be a fallacy to think that
Pakistan has been in an undeclared war with Afghanistan since 9-11 or the
problem is fundamentally about peace between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
One hopes the trust deficit in the
Afghan-Pakistan relations will end soon and the Ghani’s government’s new
approach towards Pakistan will deliver. The recurring episodes in conflict
should now give way to a sense of purpose for achieving peace.
As it is, a positive Pak-Afghan relationship
will draw maximum economic dividends for the future generations of the two
countries.
