ISLAMABAD – As the Obama pull-out plan, the Lisbon and NATO deadlines set by the international players for troops’ pullout from the troubled regions of Afghanistan draw closer, there is a significant push in behind-the-scene efforts to clinch a deal with Taliban and other insurgent groups. The formation of Pakistan, Afghan joint commission for Afghan reconciliation process is being called a sea change in bilateral relations between both the neighbouring countries, say diplomatic sources, dubbing the development a source of ” shock and distress” for the Obama administration, who they believe, had been fuelling differences and distrust between both the brotherly neighbours.
Diplomatic sources say with the deadline of the withdrawal of the US troops coming near, at least three different processes for clinching a deal with the Taliban insurgents have been launched simultaneously by the US, aiming at achieving three objectives including reintegration – which means bringing back the foot-soldiers, transfer of security responsibility to the local authorities as a transition process and launch of a reconciliation process with Taliban combat groups.
The Afghan and Pakistani diplomatic sources believe that the shift in the policies of both the “estranged friendly states” only came due to two steps taken by US policymakers – making an offer to Qayyum Karzai to replace his own brother President Hamid Karzai in the forthcoming presidential elections and cropping up of sharp differences between the intelligence and military establishment of US and Pakistan – especially on Raymond Davis, North Waziristan operation and drone attacks issues.
Following the unprecedented visit of a high-level delegation from Pakistan to Afghanistan last Saturday, the western and the US think-tanks and analysts are still mum and trying to workout the real reasons and behind-the-scene characters who brought the estranged neighbours together. The Pakistani and Afghan officials claim that none other than the US administration provided President Karzai and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani to announce the process of shaping up of the reconciliation process with the insurgents groups, defying all dictates from the US and other western allies.
“It was President Karzai who was trying to bridge differences with Pakistan and for a confidence-building measure (CBM), he had expelled rebel Baloch leader Brahamdagh Bugti and his other lieutenants from Afghanistan to send a green signal to the Zardari-led administration in Pakistan. Meanwhile, a local diplomatic source said the real change in Islamabad came soon after the differences cropped up between Pakistani and US establishment over the Raymond Davis issue.
“This incident made Islamabad rethink its policy vis-a-vis the CIA contractors working here and though Davis was released after diyat (blood money) payment, Pakistan learnt its lessons and decided to assist Afghanistan is its reconciliation efforts with the insurgents,” the official said. The diplomat said for the first time, Pakistan decided to give Afghanistan a lead role, deciding that the Karzai administration should decide the reconciliation course and Pakistan would facilitate this process, ignoring the US dictates.
“We don’t want any sort of intervention into the peace talks launched by President Karzai as our interests are limited.
We want the Karzai administration to have lead role in the talks. The Afghans and the Pakistanis are neighbours and we have to live here while the US forces have to depart sooner or later.” The source said the timing of the Pakistan visit was also crucial as the deadline for the US troops’ withdrawal from Afghanistan was near.
