To this day, the modus operandi of Taleban, and the like, has been to shock the government by indulging in terror activities, apparently sending down the message of their assertiveness in unequivocal terms. This time around their marching down on the streets of a highly-guarded capital not only exhibited the confidence that they have gathered, but also the growing restlessness of the masses in the government of President Hamid Karzai. Though the rally was meant to condemn the little-known Florida pastor, it turned out to be a big show of strength on political lines, as the crowd chanted anti-American and anti-Karzai slogans. Afghanistan is at the crossroads of an eventual change. Prolonged presence of foreign troops is already a source of instability, and Western political pundits and strategists are now acknowledging this point. But the fact that military commanders in Washington and Brussels are bent upon experimenting the ‘surge’ option by committing more and more troops for an indefinite period of time makes the entire scenario scary and unpredictable. Coupled with this is an indecisive and amateurish approach at work from the corridors of power in Kabul, whereby President Karzai intends to woo the Taleban to jump on the power bandwagon. This he does with little or no support from Washington, whose strategy is to knock off the militia for good. With such a checkered approach, one is not sure what turn the events may take and for how long this war-weary country will be locked down in uncertainty.
This dichotomy at work is neither helping Afghanistan nor the region, which is gradually sliding towards brinkmanship. Rising militaristic tendencies in neighbouring Pakistan and southern Afghanistan is an instant threat, which cannot be shrugged aside. The region in general, and Afghanistan in particular, is in need of a prescription that could help it sail through the rough waters. There is no alternative to the policy of reconciliation and rapprochement, and it is high time the Taleban are cultivated for establishing permanent peace. The Taleban, and the coalition troops, to this day have been part of the problem. They need to be made part of the solution.
(Courtesy Khaleej Times)