US in a hurry to withdraw from Afghanistan

Anil Narendra

US President Barack Obama has already announced the withdrawal of its forces from Afghanistan by 2014. And now, it is prepared to go to the extent of talking to its bitter enemy against whom it has been fighting for years. In the wake of 9/11 terror attacks, the US had vowed to crush Taliban in Afghanistan. Though Taliban could not be finished, but it succeeded in eliminating its chief Osama bin Laden. The withdrawal of NATO forces began in the summer of 2011 and 10,000 US soldiers have also returned to their country. The NATO forces formally handed over the security of Afghanistan to local soldiers. America wants that Taliban should sever its ties with Al Qaeda, but Taliban is adamant that first, the foreign troops must leave Afghanistan. It also wants US to release its commanders in American custody. The proposed talks between US and Taliban will concentrate on these matters. The US has, once again agreed to talk to its hostile enemy in the name of peace and stability in Afghanistan. The President Barack Obama has termed the proposed talks with Taliban as an important step in the War in Afghanistan, but he has also warned of the obstacles ahead. The US officials intend to meet the Taliban representatives at the new office opened by it in Qatar. Taliban have formally opened its office recently in Doha, the capital of Qatar. American officials will contact Taliban commanders through this office. This initiative also has the support of Afghan President Hamid Karzai. US Secretary of State John Kerry is in New Delhi for the fourth round of Indo-US strategic talks. We must convey our concerns on Afghanistan to John Kerry in clear terms. But Taliban has not changed its stance on basic issues and that is a matter of grave concern. Still, the US is prepared to have direct dialogue with the Taliban. The only relaxation that Taliban has given, is its consent to sit on negotiating table with the representatives of Karzai Government. It has earlier been calling the Karzai Government, a puppet of the West. Despite it, the Taliban has termed Afghanistan as Islamic Emirate. It has neither shown any commitment to preserving the present secular Constitution of Afghanistan nor made any promise to safeguard the interests of minorities and women. In fact, it has not agreed to make a public announcement to severe its relations with al Qaeda, as desired by America. It is just said that it would not allow any such activity on the Afghan soil that can pose danger to other countries. Despite all this, if the US has agreed to hold talks with Taliban, then the only reason could be that it wants to get rid of Afghanistan at all cost by the mid 2014. India has much at stake on the internal situation in Afghanistan. India must clearly state its apprehensions and fears to the US Secretary of State. Manjit Singh, India’s Permanent Representative at the UN has said that the security situation in that country has weakened as is clear from terror attacks during past two months there. Mr. Singh said that al Qaeda and Lashkar-e-Toiba and other militant groups in Taliban must be isolated and finished. He told UNSC members that changes in Afghanistan must be carried out under its leadership. This changes must be multi-faceted, which must ensure safety and security to all people in Afghanistan and human rights must be restored. These changes must ensure strengthening of Afghan Government and its institutions. He said that stability and economic development in Afghanistan depend on the neighbouring countries to a large extent. The US may not be concerned with the possibility of return of fanatic rule of Taliban in Afghanistan, but the forces in Afghanistan and neighbouring countries whose interests are likely to suffer from such a rule, cannot keep quiet. India is also among such countries, which has been investing heavily in the internal situation and infrastructure in Afghanistan for last one decade. India will never like Afghanistan to become the strategic stronghold of Pakistan through Taliban. It is, therefore, necessary to talk frankly to John Kerry on these issues.