Do not surrender peace in Afghanistan

NS Fall of Panjshir in Afghanistan Since August 12, an unspoken international consensus has exposed the spurious side, that the Afghan war is over and the task now is to see what kind of government the Taliban form.

Acting on this consensus, international and regional powers simply watched, while the Taliban attacked the Panjshir Valley, where resistance forces (Picture) under the leadership of Ahmed Masood and Amrullah Saleh. Mr. Masood and Mr. Saleh were in talks with the Taliban for an inclusive government, but the Taliban used the time of the talks to besiege Panjshir and cut off supplies, electricity and communications in the valley. He then announced that negotiations had broken down and launched a military offensive, using weapons that the United States and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization had supplied to the Afghan National Army. Much of Panjshir is now gone and Mr Masood and Mr Saleh are in hiding. Faheem Dashti, a spokesman for the Resistance Front and a prominent civil society actor, was killed.

the responsibility is doubled

With the collapse of Panjsheer, all but complete, international and regional actors may feel that much remains to be done. On the contrary, their inaction so far doubles the responsibility of protecting their lives. How long will we see when the young and hopeful wolves of the past 20 years are thrown, group by group, individual by individual?

analysis | The situation in Panjshir was against the rebels.

Resistance forces represent more liberal elements of Afghanistan. Many of them served in the Hamid Karzai and Ashraf Ghani administrations, which also included the Afghan army; Others were in independent civil society organizations, including Free Media. They support women’s rights to education and public participation, elections and the orderly transfer of power, even independent human rights surveillance. They are Afghan nationalists who believe that Afghanistan should have good sovereign relations with all its neighbors without engaging in any of their animosity. They deserve our support, not our indifference.

The Taliban pledged in Doha that they would not take Afghanistan by force. Overall, they just managed to get through, although there were areas, such as Herat, in which Afghan forces fought and were defeated because the US did not provide air support despite having a place to do so. At the time, events were swift enough that the lack of a US response could be forgiven (by some). But the war at Panjshir began in two weeks, and there was more time to react. Instead, what we saw was the international community – in particular, the US, the European Union, the United Kingdom and other democracies turning a blind eye.

red line required

Here is where the international community can and should draw a red line. He should announce sanctions until the Taliban resume talks with Mr. Masood and Mr. Saleh, as well as make progress in talks with Mr. Karzai and Dr. Abdullah. They may insist on a UN surveillance force to ensure that humanitarian aid is allowed into the Panjshir Valley, along with restored services, as demanded by Afghan clerics and women’s groups. They may require that Panjshir be treated as a safe zone until talks find the inclusive government the Taliban had promised. They can say that they will not deal with any Taliban government that does not comply with these conditions.

News Analysis: Panjshir Valley falls into Taliban hands as new power struggle emerges in Afghanistan

During the novel coronavirus pandemic, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for a ceasefire from warring parties around the world. That call for Afghanistan was not repeated forcefully. The United Nations has called an emergency meeting for humanitarian aid on 13 September. But whether the Secretary-General, United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator, Martin Griffiths, while visiting the Taliban, also discussed the cessation of attacks on Panjshir, or the resumption of its services. few days back? Or will the September 13 meeting end in a meek acknowledgment that the Taliban’s war advantage – which only increased after US President Joe Biden’s announcement of a full withdrawal by August 31 – could set the conditions for peace?

In most other conflicts in which the international community has intervened – whether militarily or through mediation – the victors have not been allowed to set the conditions for peace. In both Bosnia and Kosovo, all sides had to accept some form of decentralization and minority protection; As did the warring parties in Sudan.

government formation

Now the key is the formation of a Taliban government. Reportedly, the group has announced the first Members of the Taliban-only ‘interim’ administrationTo allow for further ‘change and reform’, according to Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid. Since it is highly unlikely that further ‘changes and reforms’ will involve an expanded administration with non-Taliban members in any meaningful number, it will fulfill the promise of an inclusive government. Nevertheless, an inclusive government would also benefit the Taliban: it would allow them to request asylum to their former allies. Without that restraint, there would be much to prevent Afghanistan from becoming a sanctuary again for Al Qaeda, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, ISIS-K (Islamic State Khorasan), the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM). Will be less. , and others.whose members have already reached Afghanistan.

leverage is

International and regional powers may still attempt to prevent such an outcome by declaring sanctions on the Taliban until an inclusive government is formed, without which financial aid will not flow and Afghan assets are not frozen. Will go Allies of the Taliban – most prominently Pakistan, but also Qatar, China, Iran, Russia and Turkey – need to impress upon Taliban leaders that an inclusive government, which accommodates regional and non-Taliban political leaders, for international recognition. Best and fastest route. and the stabilization of his rule.

The international community is currently behaving as if it has no profit. it is not true. The financial and humanitarian aid and recognition of the Taliban government is more important not only to the Taliban but to their supporters. Not to mention of strategic importance as a vital channel for the Taliban, Pakistan is looking to increase financial aid for the Afghan refugees it hosts. China and Russia may think twice about reconciling with the Taliban if the rest of the international community approves of them. Iran has already called on the Taliban to hold elections. Qatar has invested years in bringing the Taliban in for talks. They are also in a position to impose conditions, as they provide the first pillars of support to the Taliban. Regional powers, especially Afghanistan’s neighbors, also have an advantage. They closed their borders against an influx of refugees, but without open borders Afghan trade could not resume.

Furthermore, there is no need to freeze financial aid and assets, in fact, the humanitarian aid that Afghanistan so desperately needs. Donors can insist that aid will be provided by the United Nations and other recognized aid agencies, and not through the Taliban.

leaders can take action

It is not only the international community that has failed Afghanistan for the second time. This is also a civilized society. In addition to women’s groups, some of us, whether in America, Europe, West Asia/Middle East or Asia, petitioned our governments to act determinedly to protect our civil society relatives in Afghanistan Of. It is still not too late to urge our political leaders to fast on an inclusive government. As then-President Karzai observed, regional political leaders are vital to any government stability in the country.

If ousting the Taliban at the 2001 Bonn conference was a costly mistake, it would be just as costly, if not as costly, to drive out powerful non-Taliban groups in Afghanistan until the Taliban lasted a few weeks. will be expensive. Earlier.

Ultimately, the Taliban did not achieve a military victory. They are in Afghanistan again because the US, NATO and Ghani governments are gone. Surrendering the conflict does not and should not mean surrendering the peace.

Radha Kumar is a writer and policy analyst