Should we begin with a vital comment of John Gray, a London Journalist,made in 2002 on the book ‘Clash of Fundamentalisms’ by Tariq Ali,the then Pak Leftist leader,based in England ? He had said:”Highest Critics of fundamentalism are often Exponents of a Rival Fundamentalism”
Readers may themselves read and try to find out who is this ‘Exponent’ in contemporary Afghan situation ?
ADVANCE INPUTS
2) While the country synonymous with opium, agitated war lords and now Lithium,continues to dominate the headlines in the media, developments of last few days show some change.Violence is on, it is being perpetrated but from very beginning, to be precise,three weeks ahead of 15th August,former President Ashraf Ghani was not only made available with full intelligence assessment of situation but chances of a certain Return of Taliban were also indicated .But as it happens in such situations,his differences ,may not be due to rivalry with his predecessor and Abdullah Abdullah, former CEO,may have got widened.So he was left with a narrow group of Advisors who would ‘advise’ according to his mood swings. Many of these disclosures were attributable to Gen.Masoud Andrabi, former Afghan Foreign Minister.
GROWING AWARENESS
3) While violence continued in the heart of Taliban and events preceding four days Of “Fall” amplified it, people in general and young women and school going girls in particular, appeared determined to face even if unable to fight the brutal force enjoying blessing of and armed with latest U.S.arms & ammunitions,as opposed to ‘A.K’s’ of Russian era.They came out in open procession on the 102nd Independence Day of the country and some daredevil men also carried a 200 metre long Afghan national Flag through main thoroughfares of Kabul.As if this was not enough, local women T.V. anchors, doctors and H.R. activists began getting hooked up to international media in no time. In Dec.1979 ,it was unthinkable.So more awareness,exposure & literacy mattered.
ASSERTION BY CRICKET TEAM
4) It was a change for the better,but at great personal risks.Probably, Gen. Masoud too took advantage to speak out his mind.Rashid Khan,the IPL and County Cricket Star also made an emotional appeal by risking his life,while his team mates continued to practice.Even at the extreme height of the crisis,when President Biden has hinted at possible extension of the deadline of 31/8 with understood support from U.K,Germany and France, Afghan Cricket team is going ahead with its three Test series against Pakistan,though choice over a safe venue has led to short postponement.It was unthinkable in the old era of Russian domination.
Changing Colour of OIC
5) Another emerging pressure group of OIC is slowly asserting itself after its long silence.Subsequent to a meeting in Riyadh,Saudi Arabia on 23rd August,its General Secretary has warned Taliban and majority seem to be annoyed with their actions so far. Likes of Pakistan,Turkey and Qatar on the other hand,seem to have said Yes to their nefarious designs.Though the powerful collectivity has not made its stand clear on the issue of refugees from Afghanistan as yet, Turkey has voiced against it,having already been burdened with 1,20,000 of them. Incidently, S.Arabia,UAE, Tajikistan and Iran(a Shia super power traditionally opposed to Sunni dominated Afghanistam and Pakistan),may not oppose Taliban in the ultimate analysis but their current stand shows some signs of “positive optimism”. The Islamic world being dicey and unpredictable,can not be said to have got divided over Afghanistan.
Change in Exit Route
6) Incidently, as opposed to earlier followed exit or rescue route from Afghanistan(through one of CIS countries)Doha route is becoming more popular and sought after by U.S.& allies and India.Stand of Qatar on inconclusive Doha talks too may have to be watched with interest.
Afghan Refugees,A New Issue In India
7) Reverting to tense situation in Afghanistan,while India seems to be coming to end of its rescue mission,presumably due to presence of 6000 U.S.troops at Kabul airport in addition to Talibans,US too has claimed to have evacuated 16,000 of its personnel.Yet thousands continue to be still trapped. In India alone,number of Afghan refugees has gone upto 21,000(including two Sikh Ex-Senators), necessitating a renewed debate on considering citizenship to Indians among them, under postponed CAA.
G-7 TALKS
8) All said and done,G-7 forthcoming virtual meeting may also throw some positive signals aimed at containing the ferocity of Taliban action.While most of U.S. allies donot appear to be happy with their stand so far,there is going to be less likelihood of issuing of Economic Sanctions against TALIBAN, if at all they succeed in suppressing acts of assertion by Late Warlord Masoud’s son in Panjshir or in some minor pockets already liberated from Taliban.
9) To Conclude, latest disclosures made by Hashmi Ghani,younger brother of former President of Afghanistan to WION T.V. channel on 23rd August, assume some importance if they can not be considered significant enough. While he seems to in favour of Neo-Talibans, ,who according to him “may stabilise”,he is NOT divulging whether the Americans or the Talibans,who marched to Kabul” ahead” of schedule ,were out to assassinate his elder brother. Junior Ghani made two more important “announcements”/ disclosures:
a) India Afghanistan air corridor should continue,in view of rapid boost it has given to dry fruit export and
b) both India and Pakistan should continue to have embassies in Kabul.
His concluding statement -“Afghanistan under Taliban wants to be a ‘neutral’ power,” should be seen with a pinch of salt.Whatever it may be, it is going to be a change from the erstwhile face of Taliban,or the force now spearheaded by Badri-313, an uniformed,highly trained outfit having commandos from many countries and possessing latest U.S.arms,gadgets & armaments.
About the Author : Dr. Aaloc Srivastav, Ex CS , Sikkim is a Senior Retd Bureaucrat and passionate about writing on his favourite subjects . The views shared by the author are his personal.
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