Daily Times

In the midst of political turmoil and fragile security at home, there is a sliver of opportunity. Though this comes from across the western border. Where it seems that the US is now willing to talk directly to the Taliban as a first step towards negotiated peace.

This is to be welcomed by all sides. If true, that is. For it seems that an administration that is rather partial to a bit of ‘fake news’-bashing may have jumped the gun somewhat in dropping this bombshell. After all, the top American military commander in Afghanistan, who also heads the NATO-led Resolute Support mission, has now clarified that his earlier statement towards this end had been “mischaracterised”. And that what he had actually said was that Washington was willing to talk to all concerned parties; including on the question of international forces.

Be that as it may, it is hoped that there this is merely part of choreographed moves to determine how the land lies; quite literally. Indeed, this is a routine that Trump has delivered before, as the will-they-won’t-they cliffhanger in the run-up to the North Korea peace talks underscored. But the bottom line is that Washington, as the occupying military force, cannot continue to outsource talks with the Taliban to Kabul. And then there is the not un-small matter of taking some of the pressure off Pakistan. Not in terms of flushing out militant network remnants from its soil. But when it comes to being constantly scape-goated for failing to get the Taliban to speak to those that it has no interest in addressing at this stage on the grounds that the Ghani government is not the real powerbroker.

Seventeen years is a long time for a people to live under foreign military occupation. The same goes for enduring a home-grown insurgency; even if this represents just the latest chapter in Afghanistan’s misfortunes of war. Though recognition of this is likely not Trump Town’s primary consideration. Rather, as the president himself admitted at last week’s NATO summit in Brussels, people are fed up of this war. Of course, by this he means the American people who continue to receive body bags.

And while this suggests blatant pandering to false notions of hierarchies of life — not least because a total of 1,692 Afghan civilians have been killed in the first half of this year alone — it may ultimately work to the advantage of the local population Meaning that Washington can legitimately announce a timetable for withdrawal from their country. Not because the world’s most sophisticated military has been defeated by a motley crew of Islamists — but because this reflects the presidential commitment to putting America First.

Of course, the road ahead will not be an easy one. Nevertheless, the Taliban have remained steadfast in their demand for all foreign troops to leave. It is the US that has demonstrated a rather capricious approach to cold strategy; oscillating between troop surges and draw-downs; from combative to training roles. Thus it is anticipated that the Trump White House will do the needful. For only then can talks include expand outwards to include Kabul. And then, naturally, Islamabad, too.  *

Published in Daily Times, July 18^th 2018.