Although President Obama and Secretary Clinton habitually apologise to the Afghan people after every such atrocity — of which there is a long list — the fact that they happen is inevitable. Indian troops in Kashmir, and Pakistani soldiers in Balochistan, have not behaved any differently. At the core, the problem is the forcible occupation by an army of another country or people.
The Bales case has added one more reason for cash-strapped Americans to leave, speeding up the endgame. President Obama has announced plans to shift US forces to a supporting role next year and pull out most of the 90,000 U.S. troops in the country by late 2014, with 23,000 gone by this October. US Republicans — strong enthusiasts for overseas wars and interventions — are now criticising Obama for being too slow! Rick Santorum, a leading presidential candidate, said last week “We have to either make the decision to make a full commitment, which this president has not done, or we have to decide to get out, and probably get out sooner.” A day earlier, Newt Gingrich declared in even more direct terms that it was time to leave the country.
America’s “good war” — to be distinguished from the Iraq war — is rapidly collapsing and becoming more unpopular by the day. But it once had support across the world and military success had been almost instant. Weeks after 9/11 and the subsequent invasion of Afghanistan, al Qaeda was chased out and, eventually, bin Laden was killed. With time the earlier support evaporated. Except for Marine Gen. John Allen and a few others, the pretence that the US can win is almost over. It has been unable to create a stable, non-hostile Afghan government that could stop extremist groups from using Afghan territory once again. The Taliban are smelling victory.
But, much as one welcomes the US exit, America’s defeat will not be Afghanistan’s victory. The crimes of foreign occupation pale in front of the enormous crimes committed by the Taliban government, 1996-2001. Although the outside world knew the Taliban largely for having blown up the 2000-year old Bamiyan Buddha statues and their cruel treatment of women, their atrocities were far more widespread. Going from door to door, they had executed thousands in Mazar-i-Sharif after ascertaining that they were ethnic Hazaras or Shias. A 55-page UN report says that Mullah Omar’s men, while trying to consolidate control over northern and western Afghanistan, committed systematic massacres against civilians.Fifteen such massacres were committed during the period of the Taliban government until it was mercifully removed by the US invasion.
Eqbal Ahmed, who worked for Muslim causes from Palestine to Algeria, was by far the most perceptive and knowledgeable social activist and intellectual I have known. We had occasional disagreements but he too saw the Taliban as a social cancer that, if unchecked, would reduce Muslim society to medieval primitivism.
In 1998 — a year before he died — Eqbal had visited two cities under Taliban rule, Qandahar and Jalalabad. Soon after visiting a “land without music”, he wrote: “I have seen the future as envisioned by contemporary Islamists. It horrifies.” The Taliban had proscribed the pursuit of happiness: “Music is banned in historic Qandahar which had once been famous for its bards and story tellers. Play is forbidden.”
Eqbal tells of a boy he saw paraded through the bazaar; a rope around his neck, hands on his shaven head. This unlucky lad had broken the Taliban’s law. “He had been caught red handed, I was told — playing ball. Football is forbidden under Taliban rule as are basketball, volleyball and other games involving the movement of body. Boys playing ball can constitute undue temptation to men.”
Walking through the bazaars, Eqbal observed: “They are stacked with small electronic products, including transistor radios. Yet, none is playing. These bazaars are devoid of music which is banned in Qandahar, in homes no less than in public. Television is similarly banned. Homes are regularly raided, and people are harshly punished for listening to music. The chowkidar in the house next door to mine was caught in the act, and badly mauled. He misses his recorder and the tapes of ‘sweet Afghan naghma.’”
But if the Taliban are a social cancer then what cocktail of chemotherapies can work to prevent a second recurrence? There is zero chance of a secular, pluralistic democracy. Tribal Afghan society, locked into primitive concepts of honour and revenge, is likely to remain unenlightened and torn apart by internal conflicts well into the distant future. So the real question is: what could be the least bad outcome? Since we Pakistanis must live with a theocracy next door, then one can only wish for a relatively enlightened version rather than a barbaric one.
A relatively peaceful future will require that power in post-withdrawal Afghanistan be pluralistically shared by the country’s diverse ethnic groups: Pashtun, Tajik, Hazara, Uzbek, etc. Else there will be civil war. Regional actors can and must prevent this, as well as prevent a repeat of earlier Taliban horrors. To this end, Pakistan should give up its craving for ‘strategic depth’, Iran should be brought in to the picture by the US as a helpful ally, India should refrain from intrusions into Afghanistan that might antagonise Pakistan, and China must not signal the Taliban that it can fund them in exchange for mining rights. None of this is likely but, still, why not ask for the moon. What else to do?
Published in The Express Tribune, March 26th, 2012.
COMMENTS (44)
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@HMM: Why would a woman report she has been raped under the Sharia law which was implemented under the Taliban rule? The reason is very simple: She has to produce 4 male witnesses, who have to confirm the woman's allegations. If she can't get the witnesses or if they deny the allegations, she will be stoned to death due to adultery. I hope you now realize why there were no rape cases reported under the Taliban rule.
Taliban did brought back peace in land of pukhtuns and did controls drug and according to U.N.O report that time there was very less drug was smugled due to harsh punishment by Talibans, the problems was that Taliban try to run country like little home Qazi Hussain Ahmed put it in right words and second reason is world it self who abandon afganistan with out any helping hand and what pakistan can do its a saying in Hindko lang if you fall front you break your face and falling back your assss...
Dear SM,
Please keep in mind that we have many partner nations fighting alongside us in the WOT. Our failure to succeed against terrorism would not just affect Afghanistan, but the whole region. These terrorists are regularly targeting our forces in their bid to destabilize the region. And we have not just lost Americans to their attacks, but all of our partner nations have been affected, including Pakistan. Wouldn’t you agree that all independent and sovereign nations have the right to protect their land and citizens? The attacks on 9/11 left us with no choice but to go after the miscreants responsible for murdering thousands on our soil. Our government had the responsibility of making sure that their network is completely dismantled, and these terrorists no longer have the capability of orchestrating such attacks in the future. We have been successful at dismantling Al-Qaeda, and Taliban no longer have the ability to harbor such terrorist groups. Afghanistan is no longer the playground for these terrorists to conduct their terrorist activities throughout the world. We are also cautious of the remaining few that continue to resist, and we therefore have committed to leaving Afghanistan with all the necessary tools and training to independently protect itself in the near future. We do not plan to stay in Afghanistan a day longer than necessary, but it’s very important that we don’t leave the job half done and Afghanistan susceptible to attacks.
@Ammad: I hope the withdrawal takes place as quickly as possible and we see an independent, progressing, Muslim friendly Afghanistan. If we can bring a bit of progressive thinking in Afghanistan along with an Islamic government, then it would be absolutely great for Afghanistan.
Mr. Ammad, this precise mindset has made things real bad for Afghanistan. Let me put it this way - We in India should bring a Hindu friendly Govt. in Pakistan. It would be great for Pakistan. Don't like it, do you? Who are Pakistanis to think/act for Afghanistan? For goodness sake, leave the country alone; as if you guys have not done enough damage there already! Just because a country is weak internally does not give you right to meddle there.
I bet Afghanistan people love their sovereignty as much as Pakistanis love theirs.
I can hedge against America leaving Afghanistan completely by 2054. It will keep its boot on ground in some shape or form. You guys need to know, how many countries in world has US soldier presence. Once they are in they never out completely. AND MIND IT USA IS NOT U.S.S.R. Whole world economy is tide with $ not a yen, Euro or Rs.
@Author "America’s “good war” — to be distinguished from the Iraq war...." When you refer to "good war", it is WWII that is meant because it was fought against fascists. No one refers to Iraq war as the "good war"!
As author said, these are all kind of wisher were horses,neither america leaving afg nor taliban leaving pak, afghan people calling Taliban back is another thin air theory by pakistan to keep their head above the water, in worst case scenario Afghanistan becomes another south & north Korea where one side flourish another side crumbles under it's dead weight and perishes.moreover pakistan has more takers for Taliban than in Afghanistan,in fact pakistan has right mix of ingredients inform of your domestic Taliban, religious groups and last but not the least the great dear leader IK,i think ,pakistan missing an opportunity to create first ever model Islamic state in the world.
HMM
During the Taliban regime how many cases of rapes and thefts were reported?
Come to think of it how many cases of Mass Murders were REPORTED during the Taliban regime. How many FIRs have been registered in respect of the Mazar-e-Sharif massacres? Taliban had no system of REPORTING and Recording any crimes. Which is not the same as the crimes not taking place.
A large number of tribal chiefs who were regarded by their tribes have been killed by extremists. The power vacumn is filled with Islamic terrorists. Afghanistan will never be the same. There is no way the US could withdraw from Afghanistan without effecting their homeland security. US must live with Afghanistan and keep culling the Islamic terrorists more efficiently with greater use of technology.
Americans have almost achieved their targets in Afghanistan by ousting Taliban regime and killing OBL, but at a high cost. I totally agree with the auther, whether it is America's defeat or not, it surely is a misery for Afghans who are resilient but self destructive as well. We in Pakistan should reduce the -ve effects of any future development in Afghanistan by disengaging from them and focus on our internal issues. Afghans can manage or mismanage themselves.
@Muqarrib: you described brohis as different entity other than balochs, wrong brohis are part of baloch body, they speak different language which contains 70% balochi, secondly there is a resistance from brohis too if you know who is sardar akhtar mengal, but resistance is not restricted to mengals only. Secondly resistance does not come from illiterates tribals but from educated, professionls i hope you know largest resistance comes from Dr Allah Nazar.
Only Islam has a track record to solving the tribalistic problems and in Afghanistan too only Islam will resolve all these deep rooted issues. As for US defeat, it wont be Afghanistan's win because of the same US but it would be a defeat of capitalism and would be a heavy blow to it.
Rightly said! This mess is gonna keep continuing...
A question for those who say the Afghans want Taliban rule, what makes you so sure of that? I mean how do we know unless the Taliban contest elections? Even the results of an election can be suspect though, due to the possibility of intimidation.
@Arijit Sharma:
Mr. Sharma, before you advise progressive thinking for Pakistan, I suggest you worry about the dark ages Indian thinking of burning young brides for not bringing enough dowry. Also, induce progressive thinking in Indian families so they may stop the sex-selective abortions and sex-selective infanticides.
A simple question to the author and everyone else in the comments: How bad do you have to be as an occupying force that you become so unpopular that the people would rather have the Taliban rule back??? It's not only the US but the entire international community has failed in Afghanistan, by behaving more like occupiers rather then saviours. Also when people condemn the Taliban and criticise Pakistan support, they conveniently ignore the atrocities of the North Alliance which was supported by both India and US. Warlords like Dostum have been known to be absolutely corrupt, brutal fuedal lords who are running drug cartels (speaking of drugs, US conveniently looks the other way while Karzais brothers run the drug cartels outside the palace) So Mr. Hoodbhoy if the 10 last years are anything, they were no different than the Taliban, the same artocities against civillians occurred, no progress has been made on womens rights and once again Afghanistan is the bastion of corruption and den. This op-ed is like one last desperate gasp of air to justifyign continuing US presence, when the reality is these people are no better than the Taliban
"Boys playing ball can constitute undue temptation to men.”
I wonder how the Taliban get tempted when they look at Imran Khan with a cricket ball
@HMM: Your question can be rephrased better as: how many women were kept locked up as slaves to their husbands, abused and raped by them (remember in Islamic countries marital rape does not count as rape)? How many women died due to ZERO medical access due to Taliban policy? How many women became prostitutes so they could feed their children as they could not work due to Taliban policy? How many children starved to death because they could not even steal food?
The answer to all these questions is "many". Please get your moral compass straight!
let's see when some book like 'Silent Soldier' comes in the market, Who is likely to be new general Akhter Abdul Rehman, and see if sons of any such soldier become multi-billioniar industrial tycoon as well as elected parliamentarian. After a year or two picture will be clear provided America would collapse like former USSR.
@Ammad: Wah bhai!. where were you all these years. And when did you realize your "muslim" responsibility towards your suddenly dear "Afghans" ?
@HMM: Do you realize that you are justifying one social evil to curb the other ? There is no relative measurement of social evils. They are equally same depending upon the damage it does to a psychy of a person. Just because there was no crime of physical rape doesn't justify the mental and emotional rape of dignity by the medieval and inhuman treatment in hands of Taliban. Rape and other soical crimes has to be solved by proper law. You cannot use a broken law as an excuse to advocate what Taliban did was right. Sorry, but it is simply disgusting.
@HMM: What is the definition of rape in Taliban regime? Women are treated harshly as a matter of routine, girls as young as 11 years are forcefully married, and witnesses (read: accomplices) are required to prove the allegation. In the end the woman is stoned to death- in this environment who would report rape?
@Ammad: An Islamic government and the word progressive in the same sentence is contradictory.
@HMM: How about we lock up all people in their houses? Then there wont be any crime at all. The argument you made in support for Taliban is silly and laughable.
If you are a "Secular"...than I don't see the point what is the author's problem if the Afghanis want Taliban as their Governing Body....if the consensus of the majority is that they want Taliban than I don't have any right to criticise them or calling them "social cancer". I am not trying to defend Taliban. The evil acts they do are not defend-able (if they do) but how can Mr. Hoodbhoy can judge what is wrong and what is right....especially when he does not have any basis of the "Moral Ground".
@Ammad: I hope the withdrawal takes place as quickly as possible and we see an independent, progressing, Muslim friendly Afghanistan. If we can bring a bit of progressive thinking in Afghanistan along with an Islamic government, then it would be absolutely great for Afghanistan. Progressive Islamic govt is such an amazing oxymoron! The problem with you guys is that you keep equating Pakistani with Muslim. Afghanistan is a Muslim country and has excellent relations with Iran, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan which are all Muslim countries. You need to get over your 'fortress of Islam' complex and smell the coffee. If you actually want an Islamic govt like the Taliban back in Afghanistan, then I suggest that you support a Taliban takeover of Pakistan, merge the Pak army with the TTP, declare war on the Afghan infidel and then rejoice in the re-united Ummah.
"What else to do?" There are many things Pak can do to stop the spread of this cancer into Pakistan and then slowly get rid of them in Afganistan as well. 1. Stop mixing religion into politics 2. Stop talking about the non existend UMMAH and start nation building instead of religious bigotry 3. Stop playing double games with your neighbours, 4. Stop the support to nonstate actors and their violent policies 5. stop exporting terrorism as an instrument of state policies 6. Stop treating afganistan as your backyard and forget about strategic depth 7. Get into a nation building mode, get your water and power problem sorted out by building more dams big and small, Implement rain harvesting, get more wind power where possible 8. Get your educational system working instead of religion and false history which have hijacked the common man's school 9. Stop thinking that all the problems faced by Pakistan are from Afganistan or from India. Infact significant problems of Pakistan are not from these countries 10. Get trade and industry active. If u dont have infrastructure as of now, provide transit facilities for all neighbours and collect your toll charges. That can avoid begging. GEt the toll money and put them to good use.
The list goes on
@Ammad: " .. If we can bring a bit of progressive thinking in Afghanistan along with an Islamic government, then it would be absolutely great for Afghanistan.... "
Should you not first try the progressive thinking part in Pakistan before exporting it to Afghanistan ?
I love reading comments in ET. it is amazing to know how many people actually believe that elephants can fly. You know the world is safe with these geniuses who are potentially the generation that is likely to manage Pakistan, or may be it is too scary to know this.
But you are forgetting that what you forecast for Afghanistan will happen to Pakistan also.
US defeat is imperative for the region and the world. The US needs to stop poking its nose in every affair in the world and stop being the global policeman. That said, it is most opportune for peace that the US military lick its wounds and sit quietly for a decade or so to follow and allow the world a chance for peace.
The US got Osama Bin Laden and killed a whole bunch of AQ. Only people who laid down a baseline of a Jeffersonian democracy will see this as a defeat.
how Pakistan will be influenced if Taliban rule province(s) of afghanistan after 2014s :
sense of defeating US by taliban or unsuccessful invasion will influence TTP & other militants & they will justify, fight against army & other militant activities & they will get moral support from DPC & likes. they will get support from afghan taliban morally,financialy,politicaly & insurgency can increase in western borders few madrasas & DPC likes could be used as propaganda machines to increase their influence. if some sort of understanding or deal strikes between other afghan players & taliban this will create challenges in religious & nationalism fronts. rise in sectarian violencei think pakistan can confront above challenges with the help of regional countries, stable political situation & economy. pakistan will have to create some sort of balance between parliament, judiciary & security establishment, civilians should take control of foreign & defence policy. Poltical parties must hasten to play their role in FATA & development work must be completed in impoverished areas.
Creating a stable government for Afghanistan is good will nation building. It's only synonymous with war if you're taking the land for yourselves. War is a fight. The winner is the one who is still living the same life it had after the fact. The terrorist's self-set conditions for winning are the fall of America. People combine far too many separate aspects together and call it war. War is a very simple concept and you can't have a loss without a win. America still stands and they're nowhere near collapse. The US would have failed at making the people of Afghanistan and Pakistan happy. That is most certainly not an aspect of war.
I hope the withdrawal takes place as quickly as possible and we see an independent, progressing, Muslim friendly Afghanistan. If we can bring a bit of progressive thinking in Afghanistan along with an Islamic government, then it would be absolutely great for Afghanistan.
When the US leaves, the Afghans count the dead and optimisim fades away and uncertainty reigns, Pakistanis will get excited about how "they" chased a superpower out of their back yard.
By financing Afghan mullahs, our army has taken revenge for the tribal raids that Afghans carried out for centuries against pre-partition India :p
Author is comfortable using terms like "US defeat" which certainly implies he has some expectation of what a US victory would mean - something the USA has never defined. The USA came to Afghanistan to remove the Taliban as the head of the govt (accomplished) they also wanted to degrade Al Qaeda (accomplished) and kill OBL (accomplished). The "nation building" goals were an inevitable "add on" orchestrated by politicians and those are the goals that aren't going to be achieved - the American taxpayers would prefer to rebuild their infrastructure rather than Afghanistan's (or Pakistan's for that matter).
I will not say that what you are saying is all wrong and I wont defend the Taliban for their acts but what have been always told about Afghan Taliban is always exaggeration. I just want to ask one question: During the Taliban regime how many cases of rapes and thefts were reported? Almost none...But in your land of the the laws and enlightened you observed a rape case on daily basis and that too of children as young as five years old....The punishment was so harsh for these cases in Taliban regime that no body dared to think about rapes....they were not given enough time to level with the modern world after they stuck in a war for almost two decades and in that war these taliban were the heroes for US and the liberals...