Afghanistan’s situation under interim government
AFTER the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan, the situation is seen changing rapidly in the Taliban’s government.
Taliban has been seen since 2015 till to date with a different ideology of focusing on the provision of basic human fundamental rights to Afghans, especially women.
Recently, the Taliban spokesperson and the Acting Information & Broadcasting Minister, Zabihullah Mujahid, spoke to local BOL TV in his interview on October 16th, 2021 that laws are being made regarding the rights of women and soon will be announced.
Still, it is to see how interim government will be able to prove itself a neutral and welfare government for Afghans.
The global alignment has been started to swing with their roles in the region. Pakistan has taken a positive step to support the Taliban’s government in this situation and from time to time Pakistani government is seen with the stance of calling the international community to come forward for the help of Afghanistan to avoid an economic and humanitarian crises.
On this issue, Turkey, Indonesia and Qatar are of the view of avoiding and stopping terrorism, human & drug trafficking, massive migration and radicalization.
Iran is not accepting the new Taliban government and demanding of holding new elections by giving fair participation of other ethnic groups.
China and Russia have come up with a constructive bridging role in a war-torn country with dialogue, humanitarian assistance and development plans.
Global Times (2021) also stated China and Russia are sincere in their developmental and peace initiatives in Afghanistan.
Beijing has announced $31 million as humanitarian aid in this regard. Pakistan and China were seen raising their voices for lifting the sanctions from Afghanistan as the US has frozen nearly $9.5 billion in assets belonging to Afghan.
The recent visit of the Uzbek Foreign Minister to Afghanistan also shows the interest in bringing peace and stability to the region.
Tajikistan is on the same views as Iran of including Hazaras and Tajiks in the governmental structure to give the opportunity of their say and stabilize the inner differences among different ethnic groups.
Being a Pakistani and think-tank Prof. Dr. Shahid Hussain from Jiangsu University, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, China, also supported local and international stance on Afghanistan from his platform that Afghan people should not suffer from the political conflict and the international community must urgently sign agreements for stabilizing the economy and humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.
A war-torn Afghanistan apart from the economic crisis is also under the attack of terrorism.
A recent terrorist attack was during Friday prayers on Shias at Kandahar in the south of Afghanistan. It was the second attack where 40 people are claimed to be killed and many injured by the suicide bombers.
The minority ethnic disturbance has been created that escalated the sectarian agenda behind it, which has always been a sensitive issue.
Earlier at Kunduz, 55 people were reportedly killed as the same natured suicide bombing on a Shia’s mosque located in the north of Afghanistan occurred.
The militant Islamic States Khorasan, (ISIS-K) claimed responsibility for both suicide bombing attacks.
The initial third attack was occurred at Kabul airport on August 26th and making in total three attacks within two months.
It is time for the Taliban to think seriously regarding giving participation in government and the provision of fundamental rights. Side by side, various questions are raised regarding the Taliban’s ability to counter the potential threats from ISKP.
Earlier, Pakistan also faced the same situation in Balochistan, Pakistan on the suicide attacks on the Hazara community those were residing in the province. Still, on the prominent occasions of Shias in Pakistan such as 9th and 10thMoharram; on the 40th day of Moharram, etc., security requiring to avoid potential attacks again and again.
ANI reported on October 17, 2021 that the Islamic State of Iraq and ISIS or Daesh claimed to kill Shia Muslims everywhere and statement especially for those Shias residing in Afghanistan.
This additionally has been indicating the deterioration of Afghanistan’s situation since the US withdrawal. Still, the world has opted wait-and-see approach regarding the next move of the Taliban in the provision of security.
According to the June 28th report prepared for the UN of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team also apprehended an escalation from the foreign militants relocating in Afghanistan after US withdrawal.
The report stated that ISKP suffered leadership, financial losses in 2020, territorial and manpower at the hands of Afghan security forces and the US in Kunar and Nangarhar provinces, has forced to form sleeper cells in other provinces. A larger population having anti-Shia ideology has created the situation in present circumstances.
On the current situation of Afghanistan, senior defence analyst, Lt. Gen (R) Naeem Khalid Lodhi stated in ‘Better Morrow’ Magazine that local and international detractors are seen taking over advantage of the situation further fuelling insurrections and the entire country is sinking in the bloody feuds and abyss of anarchy. Further stated that Afghanistan’s situation is fluid and still to see how the international community responds.
Lt Gen (R) Asad Durrani, another senior defence analyst stated in his article in the same magazine that we have to join hands to help the Taliban for saving them from spoilers and to mobilize resources to make Afghanistan a viable state. Pakistan, being a neighbouring country, is always affected by terrorism.
Brig (R) Asif Haroon Raja, senior defence analyst is of the view that terrorism in the Af-Pak region will not die down as long as the funds and weapons will be provided to terrorists from intelligence agencies.
Taliban and Pakistan seem to have remained in the grip of pulls and pressures of Indo-Western machinations, he added. In a nutshell, Afghanistan’s situation is fluid with steady moves.
Recently, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the EU aid package for direct support to Afghans and would be channelled through the international organizations, not from the Taliban’s interim government.
Taliban have asked for more time to settle themselves and haven’t refused to include the ethnic groups but some groups are dragging them to the old Taliban’s reputation.
Instead of appreciation of the changed ideology of the Taliban, vested groups have taken unpleasant moves that are not only a threat to Afghanistan’s peace and security but also a great source of tension in the region.
There is a need for Afghanistan to join hands with the opposition and leave differences among themselves to bring peace and avoid threats in the region.
—The writer is a columnist, researcher and adjunct faculty member at Riphah International University, Islamabad.