The second in the series of Conferences titled ‘Heart of Asia’ was held in Kabul on 14th of June. The initial conference was held in Turkey, Istanbul in last November. The purpose of the Conference was to deliberate about the future of Afghanistan once the US/NATO forces quit that country. Whatever transpired in this Kabul meeting in which 29 foreign ministers and representatives of respective countries participated, however it did not produce any concrete way forward to stabilise Afghanistan post US/NATO withdrawal and turned out to be another photo-session occasion in the end. In his inaugural address the president of Afghanistan, as expected, asked Pakistan to aid in stabilising Afghanistan. He also said that the new head of Afghan Peace Council would travel across to Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to ask for their respective guidance on talks with the Taliban that are considered to be key to stabilising Afghanistan.
As NATO’s combat mission is to be wrapped up in 2014, such meets must be focused and deliverable as the withdrawal time approaches fast. Rather than being superficial and without substance, they must reflect the progress made in such meetings to secure the endgame in Afghanistan. Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar did a fine job when she accused governments of doing a terrible job at working together to tackle militancy in Afghanistan and called for a more unified approach. She also said rightly when responding to a question that she was glad that “we are not losing patience with anyone despite losing 24 soldiers.”
Afghan President has shown his persistence in castigating Islamabad whenever he attended conferences and visited abroad on official tours. When he visits Islamabad, he appears to be its best friend. But when he goes abroad, he indulges in Pakistan bashing and calls to eliminate Taliban sanctuaries in the tribal areas of Afghanistan and Pakistan. More than a decade has passed since the start of the war in Afghanistan; he, however, has not been able to stand up to the US on the need to develop close relations with Pakistan.
Moreover, President Karzai has always allowed foreign dignitaries visiting Afghanistan to use its platforms to throw venom against Pakistan. Panetta was the latest in the series. Provoking statements emanating from Afghan soil with its president standing by the provocateurs has not helped bilateral relationship between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Letting the foreigners use Afghan platforms to antagonise Pakistan will not earn its public’s sympathy.
Karzai must realise that Pakistan has lost thousands of its finest soldiers and civilians for a war that never belonged to it and it was one that hurt Pakistan’s society and economy tremendously. It would be better if the Afghan President asks his American friends that with so much of intelligence infrastructure already laid out in FATA area for launching unlawful drone attacks on even small moving targets, why have they failed thus far to move against the sanctuaries in the region.
JAVED IQBAL
Islamabad