HOW SHOULD INDIAN GOVERNMENT AND OTHERS REACT TO TALIBAN 2.0? - Special Interview With Dr Swaamee Aprtemaanandaa Jee
Ans: Well, it's an internal issue of Afghans to be dealt with purely by Afghans themselves. Indian government on their part must accord top priority to protection of Supreme Indian National Interests vis a vis Taliban regime. Talibans have already promised they would not let Afghan soil be used against other countries. They have clarified there stand on Kashmir. They have said Indian Kashmir is India's internal matter, and their focus is currently only on Afghanistan. They have also invited India to complete all ongoing Indian projects in Afghanistan without any fear. There's no diplomatic raison e detre for refusing recognition to Taliban regime, for they already are firmly placed in seat of power. Therefore, Indian government must immediately accord recognition to Taliban regime.
Q: Indian government has adopted WAIT and WATCH policy. Is it good for India?
Ans: Initially, Indian government lost opportunity to make inroads into Taliban leadership by failing to spot golden opportunity available to it when Biden Administration had announced their decision in April last to pull out of Afghanistan. If Indian government had then opened communications channels with Taliban, it would have earned ready-made abundant goodwill from current Taliban leadership which in turn could easily have translated into extraction of Talibani Leadership's commitment to not let Afghans or any Afghan groups be allowed to operate from Afghanistan to foment trouble in Indian Kashmir. In other words, Indian government could have easily finished off foreign insurgency in Indian Kashmir forever with that singular master stroke of foreign policy. Even now time is not lost. Indian government must give up its Wait and Watch policy. Instead, it must take initiative without waiting for what other democracies like USA, UK, France, and others' stand is going to be on issue of granting legitimacy to Taliban regime. Therefore, it must immediately accord recognition to Taliban regime. Look, Indian government can't invade Afghanistan to upgrade human rights there to a level that international community would like to see. It is Afghan people and their country. We cannot impose our sweet Will upon them or their regime against their wishes. What best we can do now is try to change their behavior to our satisfaction through persuasive and other non-military civilized means. However, we can't afford to lose sight of our Supreme Indian National Interests. If USA could do a peace deal with them, Indian government too have a right to do a similar deal to protect Indian interests.
Q: Should Indian government provide arms and ammunition to Ahmad Massoud's Northern Alliance fighting against Taliban take over?
Ans: Look, it's an internal issue of Afghanistan same way that Indian Kashmir is India's internal matter. We cannot be seen to be interfering military in our neighborhours' internal affairs. What we can do is try and bring all warring factions in Afghanistan to negotiating table to help usher in sustainable peace in Afghanistan and South Asian region. Anyway, Ahmad Massoud and Taliban leadership are already on their way to hammering out a broader negotiated peaceful all-inclusive political settlement that would possibly embrace full autonomy to regions in Panjshir Valley and around with non-imposition of Sharia over there. This would hopefully lead to a broad-based all-inclusive peaceful Coalition government in Kabul.
Q: Shouldn't Indian government and other countries ensure overthrow of Taliban militarily?
Ans: Well, we have no legal, moral or political rights to overthrow regimes perceived to be not following our values, precepts, or political system. It's for Afghans and their leaders to decide their own future.
Q: Did Biden commit a grave blunder by withdrawing American forces from Afghanistan?
Ans: No, not at all! Withdrawal had to be done at some point of time. You can't go on holding onto a foreign territory indefinitely with no objectives to be accomplished there. Biden did the WISEST thing he could by pulling out American troops from Afghanistan. Let's not make him a villain for taking up this courageous step.
Q: How far can international community trust Taliban version 2.0 in Afghanistan?
Ans: Well, Trust begets trust. American Administration have been successful in moulding and transforming Talibani Leadership from die-hard fanatics into a modern day softer millennium version 2.0 of Taliban. With progression of time, and under back-door American guidance and encouragement, Taliban Leadership shall certainly turn into a fully democratic peaceful leadership. Unlike Iran, American Administration have full control on Taliban remote. Taliban Leadership 2.0 knows full well, Afghanistan of 2021is altogether different from Afghanistan of 1996 and Afghan society has become more liberal since then. Just as Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) failed to impose their hardline Hindutva despite BJP in power for two successful consecutive terms at Centre, so shall Taliban Version 2.0 equally fail to impose their hardline Sharia agenda across length and breadth of country. Ultimately, they would transform into a peaceful democratic political force. Let's give a chance to Taliban boys in Afghanistan.
Q: Should August 31 deadline for foreign forces be extended?
Ans: Well, it should not ideally be extended beyond 31st August. However, Taliban leadership must reconsider and extend this deadline on humanitarian grounds if evacuation of people fleeing Taliban regime out of Kabul airport is not completed by 31st August.
- Sujata Kumari,
Chief Editor,
Aatmeeyataa Patrekaa
Comments