PEACE IN AFGHANISTAN?
Khurshidalam44@hotmail.com Dated: 16th Feb. 2012 London.
The world is buzzing about intra Afghan dialogue to restore peace in our fatherland, Afghanistan. There are statements and denials. But something is definitely going on, behind the scene. Let us be optimistic that this time sanity will defeat insanity. Logic will overwhelm emotions and sword will follow the book.
Under the heap of rumours there is a spark of hope. Where there is smoke there is a spark of hope. The poor Afghans are watching their leaders more curiously than the rest of the world. Our fatherland is one of the biggest graveyard, a home to millions of orphans and widows. It is the land of millions disabled most of them are in young, the most productive age of life.
But at this critical junction our approach should be based on logic and reasons. The informal negotiations must not be allowed to fail before it becomes formal, open dialogue and forerunner to reality on the ground. We should hold our breath and march forward with clarity of vision with a will and intention that is evident from our attitudes that, come what may be, we have achieve our ultimate goal, that is Peace. Badly needed dream to come true. We owe to our children, history and nation.
I feel that this precious goal needs three-prong approach:
1) Intra Afghan dialogue.
2) Regional approach
3) Universal approach
None can singularly yield the desired result.
Let Afghans in its totality, as a nation, play its role in intra-Afghan process of dialogue. The longer they take, to put their own house in order and to sort out their priorities the better it is. Let them put their heads together and search their souls. The focus should be Peace at all cost.
The nature of the system for governance comes as a second priority to the integrity and sovereignty of the country and nation. Let us not forget that when Afghanistan was a kingdom it was neither totalitarian nor constitutional but it was a traditional monarchy, as it was the only way suited Afghans psyche.
The subsequent changes were against the basic outlook of Afghans so met failures and exploited by anti Afghan elements for their own interest. It was the failure or immaturity of the Afghan leadership of that time to look at their objective circumstances and ground realities with non-Afghan eye and hence landed the country in chaos and anarchy. I have an honest feeling that more than a system it is the accommodation of each other’s that is in question.
The enemy should not be blamed for interference because we provided them the opportunity to destroy the very basic fabric of our society that were holding us together in all odds over the centuries.
The regional players involvement is extremely important unless these holes of interference and mischief-makers are tightly plugged, the internal affairs of Afghanistan cannot be protected from external interference, which is the key to the success of this process.
A stable Afghanistan is not only the need of Afghan people but it is equally in the best interest of the local players. I feel that they must have learnt a lesson from the destabilisation of Afghanistan and its fallouts in their courtyard.
They should abandon the senseless ideas of strategic depth or demand of a stake in free and peaceful Afghanistan. Sticking to this ridiculousness is in the interest of none. In a sovereign country the demand of a stake is against the basic charter of UNO concept.
The international community must keep certain facts in mind. If they are sincere in their endeavour to establish peace in this area permanently they must address all aspect of Afghan nationhood in its totality and it’s vulnerability to outside intervention.
While dealing with Pakistan they must born in mind that the nucleus of power and decision making institution is Pak army and its intelligence wing, ISI. It is encouraging that the tri lateral meeting in Islam Abad has the representation of the Army and ISI. The civil government is literally a decoration peace. Unless the Pak army and ISI is fully on board it will be a futile exercise and waste of time and energy. It is the time for US to show its ability of a world leader and sincerely try to restore the confidence of Pakistan and show restrain in dealing with Iran. Being the only super power it has the maximum responsibility to shoulder.
On the other hand clergy rules Iran and is the only party holding the full and unchallenged power to run the country. No other institution has got any say. The same may be the case to certain extent in Pakistan but ISI can harness the sectarian groups, if they wish?
Iran must realise that they are isolated internationally and to have unfriendly or destabilized country on its border can become a source of danger to their own integrity in future. This factor has more paramount relevance to Pakistan, having a failed state and government.
The international players should make fool- proof arrangements of non-interference in Afghanistan internal affairs on any pretext by the neighbours.
Afghanistan is not in a position to defend its territorial integrity or even to meet any serious internal challenge.
Its economy is totally destroyed. The infrastructure to run a modern government is non-existing. There is huge task of reconstruction, well beyond the capacity of Afghanistan; to abandon it in the same condition will be tantamount to the total eclipse of Afghanistan.
The present state of Afghanistan is due to the rivalry of two super powers at the cost of Afghanistan and the interference of the neighbours was an additional factor. And they all with no exception are responsible for war damages and reconstruction of Afghanistan. It is their moral duty.
Afghanistan will need the training of the personnel to defend it and the manpower to run the country and establish their own institutions. The nation has no resources left intact, to sustain a respectable life.
This needs a master plan like Germany and Japan to enable them to stand on their feet. This restoration needs a well thought out strategy that requires cash and kind with technical support in the form of technical advisors not political pundits.
If it is left in this grief-stricken state it will easily fall a prey to out side adventurist and inside trouble-shooters.
It is the duty of the UNO to make it sure that the aid is utilised there, not taken back by the donors in the form of salaries and perks.
Once the peace is restored the historical blunders of the colonial rule must be rectified. The present Afghanistan is a truncated and land lock country. It can be very easily suffocated economically or militarily. It is in a very vulnerable condition.
Afghanistan needs a long drawn strategy. It is a poor country with no industrial or agricultural base to keep it viable. Like Iraq it has no petrol or gas to sustain itself. A revolutionary approach has to be adopted to bring green revolution in every aspect of state. To restore its robbed national dignity is not to be ignored.
I have faith in my people that they are capable to look after themselves if provided opportunities. It is a nation that is never used to a begging bowl but initially they certainly need help.
The intra Afghan dialogue must cease this opportunity to put their house in order. The of international fraternity has focus their attention on us but at the same time invisible but fairly palpable hands can derail the process. It is a litmus test for Afghans to show their historical wisdom.
They have to prove the world that if they are good fighter they are even better negotiator, before the international fraternity loose their interest in us.
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