Is The Afghanistan Crisis Helping Global Reconciliation?

Reformulation of the international approach to manage the Afghanistan crisis is currently dominating political dialogue in most Capitals and strategic headquarters. A host of international conferences scheduled for the next fortnight are expected to explore the best possible alternatives for dealing with the multifaceted challenges in Afghanistan. The Obama Administration has undertaken a comprehensive review of the U.S. strategy for Afghanistan. Suggestions and proposals on the issue are pouring from all quarters and it appears that Afghanistan is poised for a grand moment in history. Will the Afghanistan challenge emerge as the Noah’s Ark – a common platform for global cooperation sheltered from the vagaries of divergent ideologies, political ambitions and nationalistic aspirations? In an atmosphere where power politics of the Realist School is dominating international relations, can Afghanistan serve as a common cause for which ideological differences will be shed and new forms of global engagement will emerge?

Initial developments show encouraging signs but obstacles are equally challenging.

First and foremost an undefined bipartisanship is taking shape in the U.S. with regard to the Afghanistan crisis. The Republican and Democratic schisms appear to be narrowing down with either sides rejecting a minimalist approach and favoring a refurbished and responsible role in Afghanistan.

The most unexpected reconciliation spurred by the Afghanistan challenge is the thawing of relations between Iran and the U.S. There is little doubt that President Obama’s friendly overtures towards Iran are dictated by the latter’s inevitable role resolving the Afghanistan crisis. Iran’s involvement in the International Conference on Afghanistan due to be held on March 31 is a direct fallout of this realization.

The attempts to improve relations between the U.S. and Russia are also dictated by the necessity of mutual cooperation in addressing the challenges emerging from Afghanistan. Shifting focus away from the Georgia crisis last year, Secretary Clinton has sought to redefine relations with Russia. In the words of Secretary Clinton, “We can and must find ways to work constructively with Russia where we share areas of common interest, including helping the people of Afghanistan.” Even the irksome issue of U.S. missile sites in Poland and Czech Republic are being reconsidered given Russia’s positive involvement in Afghanistan.

The possibility of dialogue with the Taliban in Afghanistan is the most unexpected reconciliatory move emerging form the stalemate in Afghanistan. Defense Secretary Gates, General Petraeus, President Karzai, independent analysts and President Obama himself has suggested dialogue with the Taliban as a medium of resolving the Afghanistan problem. Apart from addressing the Afghanistan issue, this anticipated dialogue process could go a long way in improving relations between the U.S. and Islamic states. The re-defining of mission objectives in Afghanistan could be viewed by many Islamic states as a positive development whereby the U.S. does not seek to enforce its self-defined version of democracy in traditional societies. The insurgents in Afghanistan are dropping hints of dialogue and negotiations with the Western countries showing signs of working out coexistence rather than working towards annihilation. The Foreign Minister of France, Bernard Kouchner has gone to the extent of suggesting that the world should accept a possible Taliban victory in the upcoming August elections.

The U.N.’s approach on Afghanistan appears to be falling in line with the emerging contours of the U.S. strategy in the region. Kai Eide, the U.N. special Envoy to Afghanistan, has recommended reconciliatory moves with the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Easing of historical tensions between India and Pakistan are also being viewed as the side-effects of resolving the Afghanistan crisis. The U.S. has advised India to pull back troops from the border with Pakistan for allowing the latter to reinforce security along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.   

Afghanistan is serving as glue for concealing the fissures generated by the clash of ideologies and national interests. All parties are ready to make compromises for reaping benefits from a stable Afghanistan. This process of reconciliation needs to be mindful of two vital concerns. Firstly, the goal of peace and stability in Afghanistan is paramount and should not be compromised for appeasing any party. Secondly, trade-offs in the resolution process should be so structured that no party can hold the peace process in Afghanistan hostage to its advantage. In the process of forging a global partnership, the critical goal of peace in Afghanistan should continue to serve as the guiding star.