‘Troops’ withdrawal from Afghanistan without deal to dent regional security’

Islamabad : The geopolitical experts from different countries in the region have warned of the worst consequences of pulling out the US-Nato troops from Afghanistan without any sustainable peace deal. It would lead the region to geopolitical chaos, instability and rise of insurgency as seen on the first day of the drawdown from the Kandahar airfield.

About 150 lives perished in an armed fight between the Afghan soldiers and Taliban to capture the vacated airfield. They said the investment made for almost 20-years in Afghanistan against terrorism and lives sacrificed are likely to go waste in hurriedly withdrawal of the troops. Somehow, it seems intentional and strategic on part of the US and Nato to dent the ever increasing Chinese, Russian and Iranian strategic and economic interests in the region. Economically weaker, Pakistan has to suffer more with the rise of insurgency particularly on its border areas with Afghanistan.

Development Communications Network (Devcom-Pakistan) and DTN organized the regional webinar on ‘Pulling out the US-NATO troops from Afghanistan without any sustainable peace mechanisms – Repercussions for the Region’ here on Saturday.

The guest speakers included former ISI chief and geopolitical analyst Lt. General (r) Muhammad Asad Durrani, former senator Farhatullah Babar, senior journalist from Pakistan Rahimullah Yousafzai, Beijing-based China Centre for Globalisation chief Victor Gao, senior journalist from Washington Anwar Iqbal, geopolitical commentator and broadcaster from UK Reham Khan, PhD scholar on Afghanistan affairs from India Chayanika Saxena, and Dr. Somaye Morovati, an expert from Iran on Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Devcom-Pakistan Executive Director Munir Ahmed conducted and hosted the webinar.

Lt. General (r) Muhammad Asad Durrani said a sustainable peace mechanism post the US withdrawal from Afghanistan is indeed desirable but also an uphill task. Several rounds of talks were managed but the parties could not agree to the mechanisms proposed. Taliban were not convinced on the power-sharing as proposed and discussed in the larger perspective. He said foreign occupation creates some serious contradictions, and the polity gets divided between the freedom-fighters, a warrior class and the opportunist collaborators. Same has happened in Afghanistan about two decades of war against terrorism.

A prolonged war of resistance gives rise to a war economy, and its beneficiaries were unlikely to be pro-peace. The resistance believes it won against a powerful external aggressor, who understandably strives to get a good post-exit deal for its client regime. Victors of war too split over the spoils of victory. Some might favour a general amnesty – the others would rather hang the ‘traitors.’ He said the onus is thus on the neighbours with stake in the stability of the war ravaged country and on credible figures within, to restore peace. Pakistan and some others in the Region had plenty of time to position themselves for this purpose. It’s all up to them now.

Rahimullah Yousafzai said the 20-year war is not won by the US and Nato but Taliban won the Doha negotiations, the pull out is the result of that. Without ensuring their fair role in the future of Afghanistan, Taliban will not accept anything but may join the Istanbul talks afterwards. There is fear of a surge in the radicalization in Afghanistan and its spillover to neighbouring countries. So, all the countries and stakeholders in the region shall join hands for a consolidated peace deal.

Farhatuulah Babar said only a political solution would ensure peace in the region. The big players of the region such as Russia, China, and also India have to play their positive role. Otherwise the spillover of racialisation would not spare anyone at all. Victor Gao suggested urgently the UN Security Council meeting to discuss the issue as the US cannot leave Afghanistan in such an irresponsible way. There is a huge task of reconstruction and rebuilding of the economy by engaging natives and Taliban. America shall allocate sufficient funds for post drawdown development in Afghanistan. He said China is also the victim of spillover of the radicalization emerging from Afghanistan to some parts of China. The Chinese government would be willing to contribute to the economic development and engagement of the natives including Taliban.

Reham Khan said the war that was started to end terrorism has ended rather unceremoniously with America leaving those they accused of terror activities, the Taliban, with a dominant role in Afghanistan. While the US is selling the withdrawal of American troops at home as their success in bringing their boys back home safely and honouring campaign promises of the Trump manifesto, the fact is that it is a crushing defeat of the narrative of eradicating terrorism peddled years ago by America.