Afghanistan: The Powerless Jirga, Controversial talks and Complete Destruction

By Hafeez Hassanabadi

On September 2018, when the US changed its policy towards the Taliban, the negotiations started for peace and continued till to date. It is not clear why the US suddenly has changed its policy towards Taliban at 180 degrees? If the negotiations are for the sack of common Afghan people, then why they were not included or why they didn’t try to find a way out in this process to satisfy them?

Nevertheless, instead of agreeing on one point how to bring peace in Afghanistan appeared to be more divided. It is for sure in the near future, they will create more challenges for Afghanistan and in the region. It means US arrival in Afghanistan has caused more bloodshed and destruction. The US’s intention of coming to Afghanistan was to establish peace and get rid of extremism, but now with shaky circumstances wants to get out from this mess.

Many observers believe the US is looking for ways to withdraw from in a hasty way, despite knowing the fact that its hasty withdrawal in an unstable Afghanistan makes things worse for Afghanistan and the region. The US and the rest of its allies know the US is eager to leave but the US may not see the terrifying future situation of the region or it may intentionally ignoring the dangerous outcome of leaving the task and incomplete mission. It’s a serious concern for Afghanistan and for the neighbouring countries.

The US and Taliban’s controversial talks and the possible challenges in the region:

Qatar, Duha talks are not expected to be hopeful because the US couldn’t bring the whole Afghan parties under a one point agenda. Therefore, if anarchy spreads in Afghanistan, Russia and India, the key regional powers, will be more concern which is understandable.

Then they may not have justification for the Taliban whoever lives with their words; which they have been agreeing with the US counterpart. Let’s say if the negotiation failed then what would be turn out of the situation? At the present the Afghan government is out from that negotiation process and taking their trust is also seems not part of these negotiations. Observer believes if the Afghan government was taken onboard then the negotiations could be held in Kabul, instead of Duha, Islamabad and Moscow.

If it was for the sake of peace in Afghanistan, then the Taliban should have agreed to direct negotiation with the Afghan government for their demands that the foreign troops should leave. While delaying the present Afghan presidential election, all participants and stockholders should agree to end the war and create an understanding among regional powers to dislodge the Daesh and Alqaeda from Afghan soil and put an end to drug trafficking as well; and, making sure the integrity of Afghan geography. They should root out the terrorism from Afghanistan, all such points supposed to be part of the negotiations. And such agreements could be used as their first breakthrough among Russia, US and China.

Sadly, in reality, it’s not the case, because the negotiations making round on only two points of Taliban demands. Number one the US army to leave Afghanistan and second is to delay the Afghan presidential election.

While delaying the presidential election is a condition and another point is that Afghanistan’s geography, security and instability have never been taken seriously and it doesn’t seem to be a priority for them. The US and the rest of the parties don’t seem to have any influence over any of the above-mentioned points.

First of all these two Taliban points are not the solutions instead they cause more problems; If the rest of other points such as controlling the drug traffic, after the US exit from Afghanistan elimination of Darsh and other extremists are not resolved. Many observers think if the US has an understanding with regional countries towards Afghanistan peace today US may not need to engage in talks with the Taliban.

Since 2001, the US with its full force and NATO support have been in Afghanistan was unable to address all the above concerns points. Now, expecting from the power which has been taking advantage of all points on the negotiating table on his term is not a wise and hopeful decision by the US. Second, for the US asking the Taliban to end the attacks and their direct talk with Afghanistan will be temporary because for Taliban not to attacks for a while and so-called direct talk will be cosmetic it will not be a big deal to do so. Even until now the Taliban are not ready to accept the US superficial offer.

A weak Jirga (Assembly)

The Afghan government is holding Loya Jirga (grand assembly) has always been more effective in resolving many issues. Therefore, holding such Jirga is the need of time which has been felt for years. However, when the Afghan government announced such Jirga then some opponent of the present government and the anti-Afghan forces together, unfortunately, have made easier the task of the enemy saying the Afghans masses is not supporting the Loya Jirga (grand assembly). The reason could be anything but one thing is clear the US allies appear to among themselves don’t have the same agenda or they so far have failed to show solidarity among themselves to resolve Afghanistan’s challenging crisis.

Compare to them, the Pakistani supporters within Afghanistan have been favouring the US forces to leave. Pakistani supporters, in Afghanistan, in the shape of Taliban forces, seem united on that agenda. Even though they are three groups and they have differences. But they are united at one point that the US forces must leave Afghanistan. They have shunned their differences and standing together against the US.

This is for sure not a good sign for the US, its allies and the Afghan government.

Contradictive negotiations

Presently there are five groups involved in Duha negotiations; The US, Taliban Daesh, the Afghan government, some government allies and the opposition leadership. Some of them, along with the Taliban, are looking for ways to take over the Afghan government. The rest of all with their egoistic mind probably may not achieve anything. It’s not because of their failure; instead, it is the indication of US psychological defeat and the impression of the US exiting from Afghanistan. The ruling government of Afghanistan held a Loya Jirga and invited 3,200 member delegations. it displayed its power who is behind of them including the present government parliamentarians and Afghans security forces because once the US forces leave; they are the one whom will be affected the most including the Afghan women and the new generation of youth will be affected badly. They are the ones who were dreaming for a long time for freedom when the US forces arrived in Afghanistan and ousted the Taliban government.

On the other hand, the majority of the Taliban in Afghanistan who are against Pakistan interference in Afghan soil are silence and in reconciliation mode about US exit from Afghanistan. They, later on, may announce to fight or join the Daesh or under another umbrella of extremist organizations and then the Daesh will be in a much stronger form raising their head up entering Afghanistan from Pakistan. While the US and India along with the Taliban or another group start fighting against The Taliban because of the changes here in Afghanistan first will affect their political, economic and strategic interest.

The Last words, as far as the peace is concerned in Afghanistan; making alliances and curbing the drug mafia traffic and not allowing Afghanistan to be used as a launching ground against its neighbouring countries Russia and Central Asian countries particularly seem to be a far cry. The way I see it the whole game is going to spread anarchy in Afghanistan and sparks of this hellfire will blow towards Central Asia and Russia.

So, like the exit from Afghanistan is not the solution to the problem, similarly staying here will be an option for the US. But, in both cases, there must be peace in Afghanistan, and that will not happen until the US and other big powers don’t give up their double standard policies towards Pakistan. The US on the one breath says Pakistan is responsible for spreading terrorism in Afghanistan, on the other, it is resourcing Pakistan to kill its own soldiers; claiming that Pakistan is its ally in the ‘war on terror.’

Unfortunately, the US, on one hand, calls itself the champion of freedom, self-determination, and supporter of secularism, on the other; it is silent about the Baloch national struggle for freedom. Tyrant Pakistan is committing the worst form of human rights against the Baloch people. And the US is keeping its lips sealed It is something not in favour of US great democratic values.

The US, due to its shaky stand, is not allowing the Afghan government to act against Pakistan. And the Afghan government is unable to help the Baloch to counter the terrorist state of Pakistan. It’s not rocket science if the Baloch national movement gets the diplomatic, moral and financial support today, the US would not have been helpless before Pakistan’s backed Taliban, nor Russia and India would have become confused about the experiment of getting killed a mullah by another mullah won’t backfire. ISI trained, Daesh, Jesh e Muhammadi and brained washed Taliban get united and put their guns towards them and that perhaps will not be acceptable to the US, Russia, India, and the rest of the civilized world.