- COAS-Pompeo telephonic talk to boost Afghan peace
The American policy makers’ pendulum-like strategy on ending the apparently insoluble Afghan imbroglio, swinging wildly from seeking a decisive military solution one moment, to desiring peace talks with the Taliban the next, its on-again, off-again engagement with major stakeholder Pakistan, are among the many unfortunate factors, other than misjudgment, miscalculation and impulsiveness, that have made a lasting peace in the long-suffering country an always receding mirage. Various multi-dimensional initiatives taken by Pakistan, which desperately seeks stability on its western border, and by concerned regional countries, basically to facilitate direct Afghan government- Taliban talks, have been torpedoed either by some inopportune, particularly gruesome terrorist incident in Kabul, or shortsighted reservations of one of the three main protagonists. However, whatever the status of vastly fluctuating US-Pak-Afghan relations at any given time, one reality is certain and inescapable, that without Pakistan’s goodwill, involvement and genuine efforts, peace in Afghanistan will remain a distant and unattainable dream.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s surprise telephonic talk on Thursday with the COAS, hopefully not a mere ‘charade of consultation’, which was his first high level Pakistani contact since his appointment , reportedly emphasised advancing bilateral relations, political reconciliation in Afghanistan, and targetting South Asian terrorists groups without any distinction, in that order. Coming from a hardliner, who as CIA chief once threatened unilateral action against alleged Pakistani safe havens of the Haqqani network and recently complained about ‘mistreatment’ of US diplomats in Pakistan, not to talk of suspended military aid, FATF grey listing threats and diplomats’ tit-for-tat travel restrictions, which are all dismal indicators of the nadir that Washington-Islamabad relationship has recently hit, the ostensibly non-threatening telephonic conversation appears a positive indicator that the strategic pendulum has veered, perhaps irreversibly, towards the policy of conciliation and clemency, with the US now backing the formerly frowned on Afghan-Taliban talks, and President Ashraf Ghani setting the right tone with his Eidul Fitr ceasefire offer, which the Taliban should readily accept to provide some well-deserved respite to the tormented Afghan people. But, any attempt by US hawks to bypass Pakistan in such talks will only deliver a ‘black eye’ to the cherished bigger cause of Afghan peace.
