Russia highlights what Pakistan has been doing for very long now regarding the fallout of the ‘artificial withdrawal’ of troops from Afghanistan.
Termed as one great reason that raises concern is the inherent inability of the Afghan forces to take over the security responsibilities and maintain some semblance of normality and acceptability. Since security has always been a sore point, it’s surprising that nothing substantial has been done to enhance its efficiency.
Despite being provided by colossal sums of money by the US in aid, and having been trained for quite some time by the Indian security forces in Afghanistan, what apparent change has been viewed in the security situation so far? While harbouring similar reservations, Pakistan too had extended its support by offering to enhance the Afghan security machinery, but had been rejected outrightly. Who does a lawless and insecure Afghanistan aid?
Surely not the neighbours! Pakistan in relevance has more to worry as it shares a long porous border with Afghanistan that has a direct impact upon its tribal areas. Already a heightened spate of violence in recent days in Pakistan can be attributed to this obscure US policy in Afghanistan.
Apart from this, the Afghan government’s puerile responses to issues of significance and its corrupt unmendable ways of governance are far from desired. Something, that compels even the US, despite its significance, to exclude Afghanistan from the momentous task of reconciling with the Taliban. It is time that the Afghans wake up to take control of their own affairs, to start managing themselves and governing their own people according to their own requirements. Only then will peace return to Afghanistan and the reservations of the neighbours start to fade eventually.
LUBNA HAMEED
Rawalpindi
