Talking to the Taliban

Hamid Karzai has once again set the world abuzz with speculation about how the end game to the war will play out.

In confirming that the Afghan government is in informal talks with the Taliban, President Hamid Karzai has once again set the world abuzz with speculation about how the end game to the war in Afghanistan will play out. Yet, looking closely at his words, which were said in an interview to CNN, Mr Karzai has not revealed anything ground breaking. There have been rumours, partially confirmed by both the US and Pakistan that the Taliban are very much in negotiations with the Afghan government. Yet what has not been confirmed, and to which Mr Karzai made absolutely no allusion, was the level at which the Taliban leadership is involved in these talks. For instance, is Mullah Omar a party to these talks? And is the Afghan government speaking to only factions of the Taliban or the group as a whole?

From the perspective of the Pakistani people and the civilian arms of the government, peace in Afghanistan is a desired goal and it should not be built on ideas as shaky as strategic depth. Instead of pursuing a client state in Afghanistan, it would perhaps be better to build a more solid foundation of a partnership that is not dependent on having to support militants and obscurantists who will take the country back to the Dark Ages if they are brought back or regain political power. Geography acts in Pakistan’s favour. Being landlocked, Afghanistan has no choice but to cultivate commercial ties with Pakistan that will, by definition, be stronger and closer than any ties that Kabul might seek to build with Delhi. The State Bank of Pakistan is already advising the Afghan government on how to manage monetary policy. Pakistani businesses are investing in Afghan reconstruction efforts. This may well be a better, self-sustaining model of the “strategic depth” that Pakistan has been seeking in Afghanistan. We hope that the government will support peace, no matter who holds the reins of power in Kabul.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 13^th, 2010.