Afghanistan’s future

Even after two parliamentary and two presidential elections, myriad foreign-funded development programmes and the creation of its autonomous security forces, Afghanistan remains a very fragile state. And even though Nato hopes to carry out its exit plan according to plan, there is a real danger that the country might descend into anarchy.

And now, the commander of international forces in Afghanistan, Gen Joseph Dunford, has urged the international community not to forget Afghanistan. In an interview with the BCC in northern territory of Kunduz, the military veteran said that despite progress made by the coalition forces, but they had not reached the point “where it is completely sustainable.” Stressing that talking to the Taleban was extremely important, Dunford divulged that the insurgency was much more complex since many criminal groups had joined it.

Dunford’s comments come at a critical juncture when the Hamid Karzai and the Americans are trying to engage the Taleban in talks. Even though the militants have intensified their attacks in recent days — just four days ago, the Afghan security forces had to battle a number of Taleban, who had seized a building near Kabul airport — the Nato forces have reached the pragmatic decision that peace without negotiating with them isn’t possible. Without envisioning a political stake for the Taleban in Afghanistan, the Americans and their partners have realised, there can be no constructive talk about the country’s future. So, as 2014 approaches, amidst bomb blasts and rampant insecurity in Afghanistan, the international community hopes that talking to the enemy is a bitter pill that it will have to swallow if they want peace.