Outlook – July 28, 2019

32 OUTLOOK 29 July 2019

by Pranay Sharma

A

MERICA’S diplomatic clock

on Afghanistan seems to be

turning a full circle. Nearly

two decades after the United

States stitched up a multi-

nation coalition to throw out

the Taliban in the wake of the 9/11

terror attacks, the Donald Trump

administration is making frantic

efforts to bring the terrorist outfit to

the negotiating table. His aim: to

put up a framework for peace in the

war-ravaged country that would ena-

ble him to pull out US troops.

But there is widespread fear that the

US is conceding too much space to the

Taliban, so that they are in a command­

ing position to shape Afghanistan’s fut­

ure. The urgency on Washington’s part

stems from Trump’s electoral pro mise

of bringing US troops home by ending

America’s longest war—a boost to his

leadership credentials before he pre­

pares to seek a second term in 2020.

Interestingly, the American move has

been endorsed by China and Russia.

But what is worrying India and others

most is the effort the three countries

made to bring Pakistan firmly back in

the Afghan game.

So far, Pakistan was held responsible

for much of the instability and violence

in Afghanistan; as a result, it was rele­

gated to the margins. But thanks to

America’s eagerness to withdraw and

Pakistan’s ability to deliver the Taliban

to the talks­table, it appears to be back

as a key arbiter on Afghan affairs. The

US, China and Russia jointly welcomed

Pakistan to a recent four­party consul­

tation process that seeks to end the

protracted war, with the Taliban in a

menacing ascendancy.

“China, Russia and the US welcomes

Pakistan joining the consultation and

believe Pakistan can play an important

role in facilitating peace in Afghanistan,”

a US statement said. Pakistan’s Prime

Minister Imran Khan is due to travel to

Washington soon to hold talks with

Trump on Afghanistan’s future and

ways to strengthen US­Pakistan ties.

But many are questioning the

unseemly haste in trying to patch up a

deal with the Taliban, to ensure that the

US forces do not withdraw from Afgh­

anistan with a bloodied nose.

“The US’s attempt to make a pact with

the Taliban will be counter­productive,”

warns Gautam Mukhopadhaya, India’s

former ambassador to Kabul. He also

feels that Washington has been “hope­

lessly short­sighted” to overlook the

salutary role played by the duly­elected

Afghan government towards the

nat i on’s development.

Similar views are expressed by other

observers. “The process, as it is unfold­

ing, is deeply flawed,” says strategic

writer Srinath Raghavan. “If Afghan

officials are attending inter­Afghan

talks in their ‘personal capacity’, it sig­

nals a total capitulation to the Taliban,”

he adds. Raghavan points out that the

costly gains made after 2011, especially

the constitution and a democratic pro­

cess, are now on the chopping block. He

says US policy is best understood as a

‘decent interval’ approach, so long as

India’s marginalisation in the Afghan peace talks can bode ill for the country

Sam Plays It Loose

ROLE NO MORE

It is hoped that Afghans

have got a taste for

an opener, democratic

society and will resist

the Taliban if they try

to force themselves in.

A Taliban delegation

attends the Intra-

Afghan dialogue in

Doha along with other

Afghan stakeholders

GETTY IMAGES