By Kamal Akmal
The deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan and the
analogous but inadequate and at times the
appalling surrenders by the Afghan security forces in the face of Taliban’s increased subversive activities
have frustrated the entire Afghan government.
The Afghan security forces, as earlier predicted by the western security
experts, have failed to tackle the growing Taliban attacks. The over all Law and order situation in the
country coupled with governance, drugs trafficking, Human right abuses and
corruption are the main issues yet to be addressed by Afghan government. Although the increased activities of Taliban
during the so called fighting season is not a new phenomena, it was very much
existent during the bulged presence of foreign troops. Even the US/NATO forces had failed to control
and secure the small area of Kabul to protect from the reach of Taliban
activities including bomb blast and suicide attacks.
The core question,
in the back drop of current security situation in Afghanistan and the
corresponding failures of Afghan security forces remains the future of the
ongoing peace talks, as Afghan media is portraying a very gloomy future of the
peace talks. However, the official
sources have not yet given any official version about the peace talks and its
future as there would be no option for Afghan government but to continue the
peace talks as Taliban are making unprecedented successes in the battle field. The Afghan government may not afford to run
the government affairs as smooth as envisaged without achieving the peace
accord or some other political and security arrangements with Taliban. Experts
opine that until and unless some peace accord with Afghan government and
Taliban is not materialized, there would be no peace in the Afghanistan and
beyond. Besides, the peace accord must ensure the ceasefire/halting suicide and
other bombing attacks, allow local and foreign aid workers and government
machinery to run and undertake development projects in provinces being
dominated by Taliban. In addition,
Taliban could be offered some share in the government so as to adjust them in
the political arena and let the Afghans to decide their future in Afghanistan.
The recent suicide bombing in Afghanistan which cascaded the
chain reaction of displeasure among the top leadership of Afghanistan including
the President of Afghanistan is a matter of serious concern. Since the take over of Ashraf Ghani as the
President of Afghanistan, the recent statement is the harshest and frustrating
one. Pakistan authorities have been
mentioning the negative elements working against the Pakistan’s interests in Afghanistan and India
is at the top of the list India’s ingress and lobbying inside the government and political circles is an open
secret. Meddling in Pakistan affairs
have never been denied by the Indian officials and at times they have publicly
accepted their meddling in Pakistan; effecting security affairs leading towards
the unrest and dismemberment of Pakistan.
In current scenario
and security situation in Afghanistan and increasing footprints of ISIS and
their linkages and support by the Indian intelligence Agencies RAW, implies a
very gruesome picture not only in Afghanistan but in the region also. The
reaction on the Airport attack in Kabul by the Afghan President Ashraf Ghani;
directly against Pakistan is widely seen as irrational and premature.
The irritant statement mainly targeting Pakistan for not
doing enough for the security of Afghanistan seems to be the part of efforts to
hide the failures of Afghan security forces and intelligence apparatus. Some experts also termed the statement as the
result of the immense pressure exerted on Ashraf Ghani by his administration’s
main stream officials, prominently groomed and influenced by India. Such forces from the very beginning of the new Unity government are reluctant and
hesitant to adopt a balancing policy towards Pakistan. Those elements also remained anti-Pakistan during
the former President Hamid Karzai era.
After the take over of
President Ashraf Ghani and his
pro-Pakistan tilt had caused serious concerns among the pro-Indian elements in
Afghanistan. Despite of Pakistan’s
sincere efforts willingness to increase cooperation and collaboration in
security and bilateral affairs with
Afghanistan.
However, Pakistan’s sincerity never received appreciation and
always witnessed the raised eyebrows. Besides, Pakistan had repeatedly been
identifying the terrorists and miscreants; having safe heavens in Afghanistan.
Their activities
against Pakistan had never been checked and neutralized despite of Afghan
assurances given to Pakistan. Even the
nominated and authentic terrorists hiding in Afghanistan like Molvi Fazalullah
and his affiliates, Baloch insurgents etc enjoyed Afghan government’s
protection and no action was taken against them. Whereas, Pakistan launched the massive
operation Zarb-e-Azb against the
terrorist irrespective of their nationality or affiliation, the adopted
policy against the terrorist the received international and regional
appreciations.
The matter related to security issues the countries always
need serious and practical steps to augment the mutual cooperation and
collaboration, despite of having the signed MoU of intelligence cooperation,
Afghanistan’s security related machinery never stepped forward to expand the
cooperation rather; an opposition within the Afghan intelligence setup surfaced
and an atmosphere of mistrust was orchestrated against Pakistan by the Indian
influenced Afghan officials.
On the other hand, the
emergence of ISIS in Afghanistan, along with the impending withdrawal of
US-NATO troops from the country, has driven the Taliban to step up their
activities and portray their strong existence in major provinces in
Afghanistan.
There are also
apprehensions of Taliban split of leadership which may pave the way to pledge
allegiance to ISIS. What was seemed
un-like and an unfathomable scenario just a few years ago is getting momentum
and current divisions among Taliban could materialized the Scenario of strong ISIS presence in the region by having
a strong foothold in Afghanistan, if appropriate and timely actions are not
taken against them.
Expert widely agree that the increasing Chinese role in
Afghanistan and opening of direct channels of communication with the Taliban
earlier this year and the latest participation in Murree Talks have caused a
fare amount of anxiety in Washington. China
has a multitude of reasons for participating in the peace dialogue
process. First and foremost, China sees
in Afghanistan one of the main keys to its entire regional and global,
strategy, from the New Silk Roads to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Sitting in the middle of the strategically
critical Central Asia region, Afghanistan represents for China both a bridge to
its partner, Pakistan and the key to the former Soviet Republics of Central
Asia. Moreover, it represents a critical node in the potential pipeline
networks, as well as trading routes, China also intends to be a major player in
the exploitation of the mineral wealth of Afghanistan.
The US Geological
survey has estimated that the mineral wealth of Afghanistan in worth roughly,
$1 trillion making it some of the most prized land in the world. Iron, copper, cobalt, gold, lithium and any
other minerals are to be found just underneath the surface of Afghanistan;
clearly an enticing prospect for China.
Indeed, China has already heavily invested in copper mining concessions among
other. The other reason for china is of
course the security issue.
China’s ongoing struggle against Islamic extremism in
Xingjiang has led to fears in Beijing that any economic plans could be
jeopardized by terrorism related instability in Afghanistan. China also wants to be an active player in
Afghanistan in order to buttress its own national security and to instigate
itself as the central economic force in the
region. Experts are of the
opinion that the emergence of ISIS in Afghanistan also serves the manifestation
of US perspective; nothing could serve US imperial ambitions more effectively
than a destabilized Afghanistan both as justification for continued occupation
and to block Chinese penetration. So once again ISIS could be seen as the convenient
tool of western power projection.
Experts believe that this new agenda of ISIS is the most lethal and
dangerous agenda in the region, which would even fume the originator to its
extinction.
Hence the whole game
is not about the future of Afghanistan and Central Asia. It is all about the US and its allies
clinging to Afghanistan for having to key foothold in the region, and wanting
to find any pretext to maintain their presence to contain China and Russia.
In such scenario, which was even elaborated by former Afghan President
Hamid Karzai and the momentous emergence
of ISIS, both Pakistan and Afghanistan must weave a symbiotic relation for
ensuring peace and stability in the region and beyond.
