Sep 06, 2014
The next government in Kabul must work towards national reconciliation
and cooperation with its neighbours
Afghanistan is
endeavouring for a successful outcome of the recently held election. It has
been marred by accusations of electoral forgery by Abdullah Abdullah, a
presidential candidate, against his opponent Ashraf Ghani. The fruitful
conclusion of the election is paramount for constituting a legitimate and
stable government; a determinant for relative stability in an otherwise largely
volatile society. Post 2001 the country has been struggling to familiarize
itself with the trappings of a progressive society: Democracy, education, industrialization,
and an awareness of a singular national identity over exclusive ethnic and
tribal loyalties.
Between 1996 and 2001
Afghanistan was subjugated by Pakistan through the rule of the Taliban, whereby
Pakistan established a strategic backyard to counter perceived aggression from
India. Afghanistan had displayed significant antipathy towards Pakistan after
1947 over its border dispute along the ‘Durand Line’, opposed Pakistan’s
membership in the UN, and laid claims to Peshawar. India, however, refrained
from exploiting the situation and pursued bona fide diplomacy with Afghanistan.
India and Pakistan’s policies towards Afghanistan have been the antitheses of
one another. Pakistan has consistently worked to ensure the domination of
Afghanistan as an end in itself, while India has emphasized social progress,
infrastructure building, and the grant of financial assistance for the
country’s growth and stability. Pakistan views Indian activities in Afghanistan
as a tit for tat for Pakistan’s support to terrorists in Kashmir. It accuses
New Delhi of supporting Baloch insurgents, denying Pakistan economic, trade and
energy linkages to Central Asia, and thwarting the rise of a pro-Islamabad
regime in Kabul that would permit the rise of anti-Indian jihadist groups. To
counter these assumptions Pakistan has actively supported terrorist groups to
counter the growth of Indian influence in Afghanistan. That has incurred the
wrath of the Afghan people and its leaders, steadily eroded Pakistan’s
credibility in inter-state diplomacy, and in turn germinated a slew of
terrorist groups within Pakistan which have resorted to violence and challenged
the legitimacy of the Pakistani State.
India has eagerly
provided Afghanistan with generous assistance. In 2011, then PM Manmohan Singh
signed an agreement with Afghanistan promising closer cooperation on a myriad
issues including national security. However, Afghan governance has major flaws:
a mixture of rampant corruption, incompetence, misunderstandings with US-led
international troops, and insensitivity, vitiates Hamid karzai’s government. It
has given an opportunity for the Taliban to strike back. In 2013, civil casualties
increased by about 14%. Some believe that the Taliban presence will increase
after the departure of the international troops. But, the successful elections
indicate a sprouting of a democratic culture. It will deter the permeation of
subversive activities. Suggestions by some officials and ministers to form an
interim government run by a committee, in the event of an unduly long election
impasse, are a pointer to a resoluteness of the Afghans to thwart the
resurfacing of ethnic tensions. Whatever the outcome of the election and
whoever is provided the mantle to govern Afghanistan would do well to keep in
mind the imperatives of national reconciliation, effective and accountable
governance, wise use of the country’s treasure chest, and meaningful diplomacy
and cooperation with its neighbours and the wider world. It would deal an
effective blow to the scourge of terrorism in the region and usher in greater
regional stability.
As narrated
by Ranajoy Sen HT 29 August 2014
Comments:
- Now we have three devastating
elements in the region Taliban, Alqaeda and ISIS. Each one is vying to show
their strength and supremacy. Greater thread to Indian Security Better watch
out.
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