US should hold itself to account
IMMEDIATELY after the take over, the Afghan Taliban vowed to respect women’s rights, forgive those who resisted them and ensure a secure Afghanistan.
The Taliban pledged not to go after their rivals in a move to portray themselves as more moderate than ever following a lightning offensive across Afghanistan though many remained sceptical.
The Taliban spokesperson declared the war in Afghanistan as over and that all their opponents would be pardoned, all those in the opposite side are pardoned from A to Z and we will not seek revenge.
President Joe Biden has made a futile attempt to paint his Afghanistan policy as a success by arguing that America had not gone into the war 20 years ago for nation building.
He laid the blame for the fall of Afghanistan government on the regime of coward Ashraf Gani. This may not be entirely true.
Two decades and more than a trillion dollars latter, the USA has handed over Afghanistan to the same people it had ousted.
All the American investment in propping up the Kabul regime, backed by a 300000 strong fully-equipped and US-trained army, came to naught within a week of the Taliban lighting offensive.
American failure in Afghanistan is a reminder. If yet another one was needed that nation building cannot be imposed from above, like the US has repeatedly attempted to do and progress cannot sprout thorough the barrel of a gun.
The American voter too must ask hard questions from its leaders and demand answers that might not be easily forthcoming.
Those American officials from successive administrations that contributed to this two decades long folly have a lot to answer for. The United States of America, for once, should hold itself to account.
The grim images of Afghans crowding departing American aircraft at the Kabul airport, hanging on to the planes as they took off and falling to their deaths will remain etched in the world memory for a very long time.
They will continue to haunt the memory of those policy makers who believed spending 83 billion dollars on the Afghan military would produce a force capable of withstanding the Taliban onslaught.
There are sobering lessons in this for those willing to learn. Now Afghanistan’s new set up will emerge in a new shape and will be progressive country.
Pakistan should take steps carefully and Foreign Minister should handle the sensitive matter and PM should issue instructions and particularly Special Assistances should refrain to issue policy statements about Afghan affairs.
War of bombs & bullets is over. A war of brains is starting.
1. America has miscalculated the biggest step it took 19 years ago. The step of thinking that Afghanistan is a walk in the park to take over.
2. And it again miscalculated its withdrawal. If anyone thinks that America mistakenly has withdrew from Afghanistan is mistaken as well.
3. America has three self-created enemies at this time: (i). China. (ii). Iran (iii) and Pakistan.
4. America wanted a civil war to ensue in Afghanistan that will spill over into Pakistan, destabilise Chinese western border and put Iran at alert with Sunni Taliban taking over its western borders.
5. Civil war did not start. And that made the American plans upside down.
6. The Shia-dominated Northern Areas and its leaders supported Taliban and made peace with them. That created havoc for the Americans and victory for Iran. No threat at its eastern borders.
7. China preemptively invited and started a dialogue with the Taliban and peacefully chalked out the future. No rifts there either.
8. Pakistan fenced off its border months earlier with Afghanistan and absolutely stayed away from its internal matters thus there was no conflict between the Taliban and Pakistan. Result: No civil war.
9. The Indian investment in Afghanistan of billions of dollars and the Indians fooling Americans that they have a stronghold in Afghanistan and post-American withdrawal the Indians can handle everything: This narrative went to the dogs as well.
Americans are more angry with the Indians for misleading them than they are with the Afghans.
10. Afghan government was a puppet to begin with and the Americans knew it because they are the ones who imposed them on the Afghan people.
11. Now what…? Now after America losing India falling on its face, Ghani regime about to run like Forrest Gump…the entire war is going to be fought now in news and with narratives.
12. No bombs, No bullets, No bunkers. A war of brains…
13. So my Pakistan brethren and especially my Pakistani youth..! Please get rest, Get United, Get knowledgeable, Get patient and…get ready to fight this Psy ops of information warfare with a vigour.
14. Indian RAW controlled accounts will bombard you with false information. They will try to delude you with wrong narratives.
They are a wounded Jackal, and a wounded jackal is more desperate than a healthy donkey.(Both are the same to me at this time though).
15. Stay focused and do not believe a word of what you read without verifying it by several reputable sources.
16. Pakistan has won. Pakistan is Stronger than before. Pakistan is on a more solid diplomatic ground than it has been in the past 19 years of this war.
17. Stay focused and get ready for a peaceful region where China, Pakistan, Iran and access to Central Asia through Afghanistan will define a new Chapter in the future of CPEC.
CPEC in my view only had one obstacle and that was unhindered access to Central Asian countries, it is here now.
And it being here is the death of India. A stronger region with Pakistan leading in it is a nightmare for India. 18. So this is India’s last breath in this region when it comes to its nefarious designs. Pakistaniyo….! smile please. We are entering a new era. You will witness this new beginning within a few months.
—The writer is former Federal Secretary Election Commission of Pakistan and currently Chairman National Democratic Foundation.
