The Implications of the US Withdrawal from Afghanistan
The US withdrawal from Afghanistan comes after 20 years of continuous fighting. Yet, instead of being a prospect for peace, this withdrawal is the sowing seeds for a new civil war in Afghanistan. The author, Mian Ali Haider, notes that since the US bypassed the Afghan national government to reach a peace deal with the Afghan Taliban, it discouraged the former and encouraged the latter’s morale. Under the disguise of a peaceful withdrawal, the US is ensuring that Afghanistan remains unstable to contain China, Iran, and Russia. The author explains that to further undermine China’s role in the region, and in Afghanistan, the US seems to have formed an alliance against China with not just the Taliban but also with the G7 nations as well–which manifested itself clearly during the 47th G7 Summit in Cornwall.
The Elusive Afghan Peace Process
The US was never really in control of Afghanistan. Trillions of dollars spent, over a 100,000 casualties, & two decades later – the US is now stuck in a stalemate. Negotiating directly with the Taliban via Khalilzad seemed to be helping the US, but the recent change of date for the withdrawal of troops (from May 01 to Sep 11) can potentially hamper the peace process.
The US in the Afghan Peace Process: A Farewell Letter?
The long-awaited Afghan peace process seems to be evident from the Biden administration’s letter to President Ghani. The letter has communicated the Biden administration’s desire to end the war in Afghanistan. However, it will certainly prove to be a challenge for the parties to commit themselves to a peace deal that is already tenuous.
Recommendations for the Intra-Afghan Peace Process
Although the intra-Afghan peace process sounds promising on paper for Afghans and vested parties alike, fulfilling it will require serious work. The author considers five possible recommendations that could help achieve the objectives of the Intra-Afghan peace agreement.