KARACHI:
US President Joe Biden’s announcement on Wednesday that it would be “tough” to withdraw the remaining US forces from Afghanistan before the 1st May deadline is casting serious doubts on the peace negotiations. Biden, however, said that his administration is “in the process” to determine when to leave Afghanistan. Even though the Taliban remain so far committed to not attacking the US and allied forces in the region they have continued their attacks on the Afghan government and security force which often cost innocent civilians their lives.
What is troublesome is the fact that the Taliban may resume their offences against the foreign troops if the latter failed to fulfil their commitment to withdrawal before the deadline — something that may lead to further deterioration of the already frayed situation. To avoid such a threating scenario, a thorough retrospection is the need of the hour. The Biden administration, after reviewing the deal, must come up with significant measures to avoid the worst-case scenario, while the Taliban ought to show some restrain for the sake of ever-lasting peace in Afghanistan after four decades of devastating war. A hasty withdrawal without any proper mechanism to assist Kabul in running the government and sustain the security forces would be tantamount to letting the Afghan government collapse and the Taliban to overrun the country. Before the conclusion of intra-Afghan negotiations into a permanent peace deal, the US and international community must remain committed to helping the Afghan government militarily and financially.
The emerging footprints of Islamic State’s Khorassan chapter in Nangarhar and Kunar provinces of Afghanistan is of concern and requires preventive measure before the US forces leave. They are not on the negotiation table and hence may not show leniency when waging a new chapter of insurgency in the volatile region.
Fawad Ali
Swabi
Published in The Express Tribune, March 30th, 2021.
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