Round
The World
New Delhi, 20 August 2021
Transition in
Afghanistan
INDIA’S FRESH
INITIATIVES
By Dr DK Giri,
(Prof, International Politic, JIMMC)
Taliban has regained power in Afghanistan
after 20 years. The motto of their battle for power is that all foreign forces,
predominantly Americans withdraw from their soil. On 15 August, with the taking
over of Kabul by Taliban, that mission was accomplished. Countries are reacting
variously to the current developments in Afghanistan -- their speed, the
violence, the resistance, or the lack of it, and so on. Foreigners are fleeing
or being evacuated in panic and confusion. Let us interpret the events
dispassionately and pontificate on an action plan for India as South Block is
formulating its strategy.
It is now evident that the Americans did not
have a robust exit plan. The US’ abrupt departure from Afghanistan has raised
many eyebrows about their 20-year engagement there and the legacy they leave behind. International observers, commentators and
experts are shocked and surprised by the agility of Taliban in overrunning the
Ashraf Ghani government. After 20 years of deep engagement with the country,
what a brittle security apparatus Americans left behind?
This is a matter of academic inquiry by the experts on foreign and
military policies. I have maintained in the column in several articles that
Americans misread the nexus between Pakistan and Taliban and continued to arm Pakistan
to its teeth to check Taliban. They were, in fact, building up Taliban, not
fighting them. At the sametime, India is charged with inaction on taming
Taliban by emphatically impressing upon the Americans about the
Taliban-Pakistan and now China and Russia axis in the region.
However, it is time to make amends and take fresh initiatives in dealing
with the situation. To start with, it will be prudent to realise one’s mistake
and missteps. Then only one
can apply the corrective steps. Such a realisation is not yet in sight. So it
seems. Joe Biden, the American President, who will go down in history for his
non-thoughtful action in Afghanistan, reminding people of American retreat in
Vietnam in 1975, “stands squarely by his decision to pull US troops out of the
war-torn country”.
The current US rival in world politics, China,
has berated US for their role in Afghanistan. “The US has left an awful mess of
unrest, division and broken families in Afghanistan”. Many have commented that
US left Afghanistan after 20 years in “worse security condition than what it
was when they came in”.
Regardless of reactions by countries, one has
to deal with the situation as it exists today. That is, Taliban are in charge
now; the former President and his ministers have fled the country. The world
will have to deal with the present regime led by Taliban. Again, many observers
are worried that the dark days of Taliban rule 1996 to 2001 will returnhunting
and hounding those who opposed them. Women and children will berelegated to non-citizens as girls may not have the right to education
and the women the freedom of movement etc.
For now, such fears and apprehensions are misplaced. Taliban in their
public pronouncements have sounded vastly different from what they were 20
years ago. They claim that their ideology and beliefs are the same, but the
priorities and perspectives have changed. To cite a few of their policy
statements, Taliban has declared a general Amnesty, which means no revengeful
action will be taken against any one being with the previous regime.
Second, the women could go back to their positions in the government,
they would be allowed to work. Girls will have access to education. Women and
girl children will have their freedom permissible under Shariah. Furthermore,
Taliban assures that women would have health and employment opportunities under
the framework of Shariah.
Third, the embassies of all countries will remain safe and secure.
Fourth, people from other religions need not feel threatened by the restoration
of Islamic Emirate in Afghanistan. In fact, Taliban leadership has met the
Afghan Hindus, and Sikhs sheltered in Gurudwaras in Kabul. Fifth, media should
follow three principles -- impartiality, Afghan values and Islam.
The concern within Afghanistan and outside in
the world is that Taliban may go back on their promises and postulates. This is
a matter of speculation and indeed, this is where international community has
an entry point. It can hold Taliban to their promises, and if they violate the
globally recognised and mandated rights of Afghan citizens,the world community
can react through UN framework. Further, armed interventions cannot be ruled
out if Taliban repeats the illegal and anti-human rights practices of the past.
Intriguingly, western democracies have
reacted self-righteously. Leaders from the democratic world have proclaimed
that they will not recognise the government of Taliban acquired by force. The
15Security Council members of UN also have declared that they do not support
the restoration of Islamic Emirate in Afghanistan that is Taliban rule. But is
there a choice?
The West led by Americans could not help the
peaceful and democratic transition. They could not defendDoha agreement signed with Taliban. In fact, Abdul Ghani Baradar,
co-founder of Taliban, supposed to be the next president of Afghanistan, was
released from Pakistan jail to negotiate and sign the agreement with Afghan
government and Americans. That agreement fell apart.
At any rate, we are today with Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. New
Delhi, along with others, could not stop it. They should now prepare to deal
with them. Both Americans and other democracies in the world must ensure that
human rights are not violated. Americans will have to sit back, reflect and
restrategise on how they must intervene in other countries. Their image as a
super power has been sullied by the strategic blunders in Afghanistan. In order
to restore their status, they will have to quickly make course-connections.
There is no point in chest-thumping on the bold decision of Biden to retreat
from Kabul and leave the government in the lunch.
Likewise, New Delhi should work closely with Americans in monitoring the
situation in Afghanistan and its geo-political consequences. New Delhi can no
longer do social services in Afghanistan when life and security are at stake,
and if Taliban becomes a spring board for cross-border terrorism. Hopefully,
Taliban will behave better in their own interest, and those of their country.
Let us be on watch. ---INFA
(Copyright, India New & Feature Alliance)
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