EDITORIAL
Afghanistan, and capital Kabul in particular, have not experienced peace for long years – life there having been shattered in the past over two decades by invasions from outside, a series of internal strife complicated further by the Taliban militancy and anchoring of the world’s top terror group, the Al Qaeda on its soil. The huge explosion in the central city area close to the diplomatic missions Tuesday, resulting in many casualties, is simply the latest in an ongoing series. Quite clearly, the strategies being adopted by President Ashraf Ghani, who took power last year, are proving to be of little help in checking militancy or restoring a modicum of peace in the landlocked country.
On the contrary, misgivings are widespread against the sudden changes in the strategies Ghani is evolving for the security forces. For instance, increased cooperation with Pakistan, at the expense of India, is seen by Ghani as the best way forward for his country to overcome the security issues that are largely the creations of the militant outfit, the Taliban. He is doing so even in the face of widespread resentment in Afghanistan over the direct and indirect support that the Pakistani establishment is providing to the militants. Pakistan is evidently doing so with a view to getting the government there to its heels in order to force it toe a line favourable to Pakistan in regional politics.
The visit by Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to Kabul a week ago, accompanied by the head of the ISI, was followed by an announcement this week that the two countries have signed a pact to strengthen cooperation on intelligence gathering and training spies. It is no secret that large sections within Afghanistan’s intelligence and security establishments are apprehensive of the intentions of Pakistan, and there is genuine concern in India as well in this respect. Chances are that the ISI would use this as another front to take on India. With American as well as NATO troops pulling out, fears are that Afghanistan under Ghani will turn out to be a serious problem to itself as also to both India and the West.
India’s position is turning precarious there ever since Ghani took power in September. Indian diplomatic missions are specially targeted, as is evident from the attack in a Kabul Guest House last week. While the main target of the attack was believed to be Indian envoy Amar Sinha — he had a providential escape by not being present at an event there despite an invitation to him — four Indians were among the nine foreigners killed in the attack. It is common knowledge that ISI had plotted killing of Sinha in an abortive attempt two years ago. Tuesday’s attack by a suicide bomber on the justice ministry, alongside the diplomatic circuit, adds to India’s concerns about the worsening security environment in such vital areas.
In fact, after the US-NATO troop pullout at the end of last year, there has been a steady deterioration in the security situation across Afghanistan. While a bad turn was anticipated after the American exit, there is little from the side of the Ghani government by way of reassurance to the people, or to Afghanistan’s long-term allies like India, that the new leader intended to measure up to the evolving situation. His cold-shouldering of India ran parallel to his efforts at building bridges with Pakistan, which had been kept at an arm’s length during the Hamid Karzai period. It took several months for Ghani to visit Delhi, the normal first port of call for Afghan leaders, further straining the ties between the two countries. As it turned out, a major terror offensive in Afghanistan had delayed Ghani’s scheduled departure to India by several hours, signifying the gathering gloom there vis-à-vis security.
While Ghani has every right to pick and choose his allies, what is imperative is also that the shifts in stands being made by his government should ultimately be benefiting his country. That, in essence, should boil down to a steady restoration of peace in the volatile region where militants have found safe havens – over swathes of Afghanistan and Pakistan. The more Ghani vacillates on this front, the more the strain on regional security as also global peace. It will essentially be up to the President to maintain at least the level of security that he has inherited from his predecessor, rather than turning his nation into a crucible for his experiments in regional diplomacy.