China, Russia and Pakistan in new attempt to untie the stubborn Afghan knot
It is now fifteen years since 9/11, but there is no end in sight to the chaos that prevails in Afghanistan. Like Iraq, it remains another mission unaccomplished, an apparently insoluble problem and a testimony to the US failure. Now, to stem the rot, two new actors – China and Russia – have entered into this grim picture. Their latest initiative was the trilateral talks, including Pakistan, held in Moscow on Tuesday between their senior diplomats which can hopefully lead to a meaningful change from the present aimlessly drifting Afghan situation.
Their main concern is the deterioration of the security situation in Afghanistan. The country is allowing safe havens to the hardened IS fighters fleeing from Syria and Iraq in some of its areas which are out of government control. Add to this a weak and incompetent government in Kabul, ridden by factional infighting, a backward and ideologically confused military force, apart from the usual suspects of the warlords, Al-Qaeda and the Taliban, and you have a recipe for a certain descent into anarchy. To avert a catastrophe, the trio is willing to go the extra mile. And this includes the removal of the names of those Taliban who are willing to contribute to the new peace moves from the UN sanctions list. They want an ‘Afghan-led, Afghan-owned peace and reconciliation process’ and not an imposed one. Apart from Afghanistan, they are also considering inviting Iran to join in, as it enjoys regional influence in the devastated country.
Afghanistan has, to an extent, rightly protested at being left out from the three initial meetings of the trio and its Foreign Ministry spokesman made no bones about their disappointment at this exclusion. But these were merely preparatory meetings, laying down parameters and possible strategies, agreeing on the agenda and other preliminary discussions. The US too should not fear being sidelined, as it maintains a considerable troop presence in Afghanistan, and give the green light to the fresh efforts for lasting peace.