Afghanistan: beyond 2014
Courtesy:- Nazea Jabeen
On January 11, 2013 President Obama
and his Afghan counterpart Karzai reached key agreements regarding the future
of Afghanistan. The salient features of this agreement are as follows: the
troops of US and NATO allies will be replaced by Afghan forces during Spring,
the whole transition will be completed by the end of next year 2014 but the
residual forces will remain in Afghanistan with the condition that U.S forces
will have legal immunity and economic transition will be focused on developing
human capital growth based on private sector, entrepreneurs and Afghan’s
natural wealth. It also includes that the process of reconciliation will be
continued with Taliban with support from regional countries including Pakistan.
Pakistan being the primary stakeholder is very important as far as the future
of Afghanistan is concerned.
The question is not when the troops
are vacating Afghanistan but the relevant question is in what condition and
state, is the US leaving the country it has been lording over well over a
decade now? Is the war won by US? What is the future of beleaguered Afghanistan
and what are the future prospects for its neighboring country Pakistan. What
role Pakistan can play in the smooth transition of power from US and its allies
to the Afghan people?
As far as the view point of Americans is concerned, some of
them believe that Afghanistan is now in a far better condition as compared to
when US forces took over. As per the US claims the country has been totally
transformed demographically, economically, politically and socially. Women are
free to move and about 2 million girls are going to school. The process of
reconstruction and democratization is almost complete. This beautiful picture
may charm few but reality is sharply different than that painted by the
Americans leaving all the questions unanswered.
The world history shows that war is never a solution of
problem rather it breeds number of problems. How can the longest running war in
the American and global history can bring development? The flowers cannot bloom
in the war torn area of Afghanistan where millions of dead bodies are buried.
How this tragic version of ‘sesame
street” comedy can be produced to bring smile on the face of people whose young
innocent kids like buds were smashed with ‘Toy Bombs’. The death of innocent
civilians including children is not the story of past rather it still
continues.
CNN reported “In January
2012, video footage emerged of U.S. soldiers apparently urinating on Afghan
corpses. In February, Afghans rioted after it was discovered that copies of the
Quran had
been burned in violation of
Islamic custom at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan. Last month, an Army staff
sergeant allegedly went on a
rampage and shot to death 17
Afghan civilians, including numerous children”. Isn’t it the defeat of
the biggest civilization of the world? Isn’t it the failure of well thought out
strategy? It means there is less to celebrate and much to worry.
Many Americans think that this war has been a waste of
resources in contradiction of what American government is stating. They view it
as another Vietnam War producing no positive end result. Robert Baer is a
former CIA agent who spent most of his career in Middle East. His book
"See No Evil" has been lauded for its first-person look inside the
agency and for its analysis of events leading up to the war on terror. He said,
“I think the situation there is going from bad to worse. Its incidents like
these which are dividing American troops from the Afghans. I just don't see it
getting better. Of course, this is an isolated event. It's not the end of the
world, but if it continues on like this -- more or bad news we're going to have
a very, very difficult time stabilizing this country before 2014.”
On the whole, the major issue for Pakistan is how to
establish a stable and secure Afghanistan. It is not only in the interest of
Pakistan but harmony in the whole region depends on stable Afghanistan.
Terrorism and extremism is the common enemy of both countries. Significant
leaders of Pakistan like Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and Senior Misniter Bashir
Ahmed Bilour and countless innocent people have fallen victim to terrorist
activities. Both countries need to focus on areas of common interest. It is
hoped that Pakistan and Afghanistan will sign strategic agreement by the end of
2013. Successful dialogue and bilateral agreements are imperative especially
when the 2014 deadline is approaching near. Again the problem of Afghan
refugees holds much importance. According to an estimate 1.7 million Afghanis
are living legally while 1 million are living illegally in Pakistan and their
safe return to their homeland is in Pakistan’s interest. It is only possible if
stability is maintained in Afghanistan for long times to come.
Af-Pak region has undergone huge turmoil since the so-called
war on terror began in 2001. Despite the massive expenditures and superior
technology employed by the best trained armies of US, NATO and ISAF, the clear
winners and losers are yet to be identified after the passage of 12 years.
Afghanistan remains as much volatile as ever with the writ of the Karzai administration
not extending beyond Kabul with the prop of international security assistance
forces. History bears witness to the fact that solutions imported from outside
have failed in Afghanistan. It is about time all parties supported peace and
reconciliation process in the war-torn country. After all, all great wars come
to an end through dialogue and engagement.
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