A history of failures
Soon after the overthrow of the Taliban government, President George W Bush visualised nation building as the prime task in Afghanistan. Bush miserably failed to achieve the aim. By the time his tenure expired, Afghanistan was already insurgency ridden. Obama campaigned on winning the war in Afghanistan and implemented a surge that peaked to 100,000 soldiers. Like his predecessor, Obama too failed to achieve the objective. Within months of his departure the Taliban were in control of more territory than at any time during the 16 years of insurgency. Donald Trump’s Afghan policy – devised after a prolonged debate and infighting – is unlikely to bring peace to Afghanistan or the region.
Unlike Bush, Trump would not go for nation building in Afghanistan. His policy is simply aimed at winning the war. Obama failed, he maintains, because he made his plans public and the Taliban decided to wait out the troops’ drawback. Trump hopes to beat the Taliban, IS and Al-Qaeda by keeping his plans secret. The 8,400 US troops, bolstered by 4,000 allied troops are expected to be joined by 3,000 American troops soon. They are supposed to jointly break the prevailing stalemate and force the Taliban to sue for peace. Meanwhile the Taliban are on the offensive having taken five districts and a strategic valley during the last month.
A part of the US strategy is to put pressure on Pakistan to ensure that its territory is not used as a spring board by terrorists. The Pentagon has already withheld $50 million in military payments to Pakistan. Blaming Pakistan while recognising a role for India in Afghanistan would deepen misunderstandings. Islamabad accuses New Delhi of using Afghan soil for lunching terrorist attack inside Pakistan. In case the US is serious about peace in the region it has to use its influence with India to persuade it to hold meaningful talks with Pakistan on all issues including Kashmir. Pakistan should meanwhile make sincere efforts to improve ties with Afghanistan. Islamabad has to realise that harbouring terrorist networks has harmed Pakistan in the past and can do so in the future.
