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Afghanistan: A tale of political intrigues
Sajjad
Ahmad Khan
It was the first week of
December 2001 when the US got all steamed up and launched a
'manhunt' in Tora Bora and along the ridges of southwest of
Jalalabad for the apprehension of Osama bin Laden - 'Dead or
Alive'. The horrifying event of Twin Towers of World Trade Center,
New York, eclipsed all other issues under the sun. Terrorism was
spotlighted, new jargons were coined to violate international
law as first choice. After receiving a point-blank reply from
Afghanistan, regarding the handover of Osama bin Laden, the US
drove into high dudgeon, swooping on Afghanistan to smoke the
enemy out. Since then, thousands of the radicals have been
pouring into the neighbouring states, including Pakistan. To get
hold of the main suspect of 9/11, the particular stretch of the
country was blasted by B-52 bombers, and, resultantly, peace
turned as elusive as ever. We must know whether Washington is
really on the hunt for the mastermind of 9/11, or Osama is being
used as a pretext to achieve its long-term aims in the region.
America is no more coy about its game plan in the area, reaching
the Central Asian Republics (CARs) has been
high on the agenda of Washington. Recent happenings in the
region and beyond give substance to the wording of a famous
Brazilian journalist, Pepe Escobar, that the globalised world,
directly or indirectly, is the age of a 'liquid war'.
Apparently, the CIA's grasp on
the situation is limited. It seems that the American war plan
will never work out in the state, which has been the locus of
snares, turmoil and mayhem. We have to keep in mind that
Afghanistan is still a flash point with a complete breakdown in
law and order. Unfortunately, President Barack Obama feels
compelled to 'stay with the existing course' in Afghanistan. He
has been coerced into sending extra troops, assuaging the
desires of 'white extremists' holding the reigns of the
Pentagon.
Washington has lately tried to
tweak its Afghan policy, but in vain. The Pentagon has been
neglectful of the fact that only Afghans themselves could
rectify the situation. America is an ostrich about the
Afghanistan's destitution, which has been the major problem.
After suffering the bouts of foreign interventions and decades
of internecine warfare, the peace process is dead slow,
requiring the international community to show remarkable
patience and political acumen.
President Obama wants to fulfill
his promises which he has made in his election campaign. So,
Obama and co are poised to afresh the confrontation by deploying
more soldiers in Afghanistan. The combat strategy would never
work in practice, except more bloodshed and escalation of
terrorist activities in Pakistan. Similarly, the resurgence of
Taliban can not be ruled out even for a quick second. As we know
that the Afghan police and NATO forces are the common targets of
Taliban attacks. A report issued, by an International Council on
Security Development, on December 8, 2008, stating that 75
percent of the area was under the influence of the radical
forces. Notwithstanding the eight years extensive war in
Afghanistan, the US and its allies have never been able to
produce some desirable results, but in Kabul.
We should not hold out much hope
of getting peace if the US stays for years. The high-pitched
statements of George W. Bush about victory and peace in
Afghanistan have proved phony. Even the Americans have started
to wonder aloud if they would ever succeed. It will be highly
appreciated if the US withdraws its soldiers from the Afghan
imbroglio while laying the basis for eternal peace and pure
reconstruction projects in Afghanistan. Now it has dawned on the
world that there is no easy answer to the problem, except the
desired reconciliation. While understanding the goings in
Afghanistan, the US high officials are likely to support the
rapprochement between the warring factions, besides the 'middle
ground arrangement' for the NATO troops to bring peace in the
country. No doubt, the US is in a rude awakening when it sees
the abrupt changes around the world, forcing it to review its
designs in South Asia. It is the high time for the US
to dissect its policies with an open mind.
The puppet government of Hamid
Karzai never met with any common applause in Afghanistan. He is
being dubbed as the 'Babrak Karmal' of the Americans by his
opponents. Moreover, his penchant for heaping blames on Pakistan
has been the real hindrance in establishing friendly
relationship with Pakistan. It is alleged that he
has been supporting the Indian propaganda against Pakistan. More
than often, he went a step ahead of the Indian hawks, saying
that Pakistan had been involved in exporting terrorism.
People, around the region, are
keeping their eyes peeled for the elections going to be held on
August 20. The desire for fair elections is stronger than ever.
Karzai seems to be very enthusiastic, as his election campaign,
which has officially started twelve days ago, has been pulling a
good crowd. |