An US-based think tank on Saturday said that Pakistan was and would continue to remain a major player in the final outcome in Afghanistan, adding that economic incentives could be given to Islamabad if it took steps to restrain the Taliban operating from sanctuaries on its soil.
“Washington’s approach in this situation should be to continue to work on interpersonal relationships among key leaders, as well as coordination and cooperation along borders where enemies of one country or the other often cross,” a report by Center for a New American Security (CNAS) said.
In the report, authored by two former top defense officials of the Obama administration, the CNAS called for providing incentives to Pakistan, like a free trade accord or aid for a regional energy sector, provided Islamabad restrained the activities of the Taliban within its territory.
The report is co-authored by former US Afghanistan commander General (r) John Allen, former Pentagon undersecretary for policy Michele Flournoy and Brookings senior fellow Michael O’Hanlon.
“These things should be done in tandem with Afghan leaders at every step. Beyond that, measures towards deeper economic integration may be possible with Pakistan provided that Islamabad takes significant and effective steps to restrain the Afghan Taliban operating from sanctuaries on its soil,” the report said.
“Realistically, this agenda may not yield great fruit by the end of 2014, but it is still the right way to play for the long run,” the report added.
Furthermore, the report said that Islamabad and Washington had such a troubled history that there was deep distrust and even a degree of pathology in the relationship.
“That helps explain why some in Pakistan, fearful of future Indian dominance of the wrong type of Afghan government and dubious that the US and its partners will really remain committed to Afghanistan’s future stability, continue to hedge by supporting the Taliban as an insurance policy even now,” it said.
