Glitches after historic peace agreement

Asif Haroon Raja

Taliban Seized Power

The Taliban regime under Mullah Omar took over power after capturing Kabul in October 1996. It managed to eliminate war lordism, poppy growing and crimes and restore normalcy by introducing strict Sharia. The regime was recognized by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and UAE. For the first time Pakistan’s western border became safe and the Indian influence in Afghanistan waned.

The US extended a helping hand to the ruling regime but it came in bad books when the deal with the UNICOL for sharing profits on oil and gas pipelines didn’t materialise in 1997. There on, the county was demonized, sanctioned and ostracized.

False Flag Operation

After a false flag operation on 9/11, story of Al-Qaeda led by Osama bin Laden based in Afghanistan was woven. When Taliban Shura sought proof of OBL’s involvement and suggested a fair trial at a neutral venue, George W. Bush rejected the request since invasion had been preplanned.

Pakistan Threatened

Pakistan was threatened to be pushed into Stone Age if it didn’t cut off relations with the Taliban and refused to provide all the support the US needed.

Reasons for Invasion. The reasons propounded by the invaders to impress the world were:

To avenge the killings of about 3000 Americans; free the Afghans from the tyranny of Taliban; liberate and educate the women; eliminate opium production; and make the country democratic and prosperous.

Hidden motive was to make Afghanistan a strategic outpost against China, Russia, Iran and Pakistan and to extract mineral resources from Central Asia.

Invasion of Afghanistan

The US in 2001 was the wealthiest and strongest nation in the history of the world.

Afghanistan had already undergone 10-year war against the Soviets in which it had suffered 1.2 million fatalities and that many injuries. 

The war was followed by bloody civil war for another 6 years during which there was more bloodshed.

This could have been avoided had the US not exited in haste in 1990, and left the seven Mujahideengroups as well Pakistan, which had played a key role, high and dry.

Penurious Afghanistan was encircled from all sides. Troops of Northern Alliance trained by the militaries of Iran and India were used for ground invasionon October 7, 2001, while air support was provided by US-NATO forces.

Once the Taliban carried out a tactical withdrawalto Tora Bora caves and then to FATA in order to avoid destruction of the country, Bush and his team sounded victory bugles.

Iraq Invaded

Megalomania impelled the adventurers to invade Iraq in 2003 under fake charges of weapons of mass destruction with a view to change the boundaries of Middle East, steal its oil and mineral resources and establish Greater Israel.

George Bush’s Fight-&-Fight Strategy

During his eight-year rule, Bush adopted fight-and-fight strategy to defeat Al-Qaeda and Taliban in Afghanistan and resistance forces in Iraq, and to weaken Pakistan covertlythrough proxies and ‘Do More’ mantra.

He paid little heed to rebuild the destroyed countryrehabilitate the people, and instead focused more on destabilizing Pakistan and Iraq.

From 2004 onwards, Pakistan was accused of abetting terrorism, while RAW-NDSwere encouraged to foment terrorism in Pakistan from Afghan soil.

ISAF

In order to share the spoils of war, 48 countries of the world joined the war on terror in Afghanistan. The ISAF comprised of 30,000 troops.

Occupiers enjoyed strategic, technical, technological, administrative and informational advantages,but couldn’t stop the Taliban from regrouping and returning back to their original bastion in southern Afghanistan.

Barack Obama’s Rule

Obama framed Af-Pak policy, closed the Iraqi front and shifted the centre of gravity to Afghanistan by carrying out troop surges in 2009/10 and increased the troop level from 30,000 to 1, 30,000.

The ISAF under Gen Petraeus tried hard to launch military operations in Qandahar, Khost and in Helmand, but couldn’t do so even when its demand of clearance of North Waziristan from the presence of HN was fulfilled by Pakistan in 2015.

Obamamade drone as choice weapon and used it extensively in Afghanistan and in FATA so as to disrupt, dismantle and defeat Al-Qaeda with the help of Pakistan.

In 2011, peace prong was launched in Afghanistan and fight and talk policy was adopted.

Since troop surges proved expensive and couldn’t make any headway, Obama decided to pullout and troop drawdown commenced in July 2011. Same year Spring offensive was launched in Middle East to change regimes and create chaos.

In May 2012, US-Afghan strategic partnership agreement was signed. Similar agreements were also inked between India-Afghanistan and India-USA.

Combat missions in all 34 Afghan provinces (403 districts) were handed over to US-UK trained 350,000 strong ANSF by mid-2013. Green-on-blue attacks intensified in 2014.

On August 5, 2014, Maj Gen Harold J. Greene was killed and 15 officers and men including German Brig were injured by an Afghan gunman dressed in ANA uniform.

By December 2014, the ISAF strength was reduced to 13000 with 9800 US troops. This force named as Resolute Support Group was left behind under bilateral security agreement to provide backup support to ANSF. 

Once bulk of troops withdrew in December 2014, the Taliban took advantage and intensified their attacks to turn the tide in their favor.

In December 2016, 1000 US troops withdrew and 8400 troops were deployed in four military bases of Kabul, Bagram, Qandahar and Jalalabad. 

Pakistan carried out all the major offensives in Swat-Malakand region, Bajaur, South Waziristan, Mohmand, Kurram, Khyber, Orakzai, North Waziristan agencies during Obama rule and achieved decisive results.

Donald Trump’s Tenure

On August 21, 2017, Trump discarded talk’s option and readopted George Bush’s policy of fight and fight with greater vigor. 3000additional troops were inducted.From September 2017 till end 2018, revenue sources, transportation networks and leaders of Taliban were targeted. 200 air strikeswere conducted dropping 7500 bombs and drones were fired extensively. Mother of all bombs was droppedat Nangarhar.

The Taliban conducted 8000 attacks. Civilian casualties in 2018 surged to 10,993. 2019 was the most expensive year for ANSF.

The Taliban controlled or contested every province in the country and threatened provincial capitals. Farah and Ghazni Provinces were briefly seized in May and August 2018 respectively. Over 60% districts came under their control.

To hide his embarrassment, like his two predecessors, Trumpblamed Pakistan for instability in Afghanistan.

Peace Talks Initiated

Obama regime initiated the peace process in 2011 and helped in opening Taliban political office at Doha in June 2013. Pakistan managed to convince the defacto Taliban Ameer Mullah Mansour Akhtar and hosted an intra-Afghan dialogue in Murreeon 07 July 2015, whichwas attended by many influential Afghan leaders. Representatives of USA and China sat as observers.

Spoilers of peace disrupted the next round of talks scheduled on 31 July 2015 by releasing the news of death of Mullah Omar.

Quadruplicate peace talks initiated by US, China, Afghanistan and Pakistan couldn’t make any headway. When Pakistan once again created conducive conditions for the meeting, Mullah Mansour was droned to death in May 2016.

Once Trump took over power in January 2017, he cancelled peace talks and planned to decimate the Taliban. After over one year of rigorous use of force and failing to achieve any results, Trump nominated ZalmeyKhalilzadto open talks with Taliban in July 2018and end the war. In September 2019, Trump abruptly cancelled peace talks on the pretext of death of one US soldier.

In October 2019, Islamabad hosted a Taliban delegation headed by Mullah Baradar and also facilitated Taliban's meeting with Khalilzad in Islamabad. The US, China, Pakistan, and Russia came together in the Moscow talks where all four sides agreed that 'negotiations' are the only road to peace in Afghanistan. China also hosted an intra-Afghan dialogue in Beijing which was attended by MullahBaradar, Pakistan and USA reps. In December 2019, the US resumed talks with Taliban.

From July 2018 till February 2020, ten rounds of peace talks took place. The sticking points on which the process got lengthy were insistence of the US to carryout permanent ceasefire, inclusion of Kabul regime in peace talks and letting the US military to retain some bases. The Taliban didn’t agree to any and insisted upon complete withdrawal of foreign forces. On insistence of Pakistan, the Taliban agreed to curb violence for 7 days from 22 to 28 February 2020 to sign peace agreement.

Power Tussle in Kabul

Presidential elections were held in September 2019. Although the Election Commission declared Ashraf Ghani a winner on 18 February 2020 with 50.64% votes, Dr. Abdullah securing 39.52% votes rejected the results.

Ashraf Ghani and Dr. Abdullah held presidential inauguration ceremonies at Kabul on 9 March separately, thereby laying the foundation for a divided Afghanistan on ethnic/sectarian lines.

Ghani abolished the portfolio of CEO held by Abdullah.

The US applied pressure by cutting $ one billion aid and also made persistent efforts to end the feudsince power tussle politically weakened the US installed regime. The two rivals signed power sharing agreement on 16 May 2020.

Historic Peace Agreement

MullahBaradar and ZalmeyKhalilzad signed the historic peace agreement in Doha on 29 February 2020, bringing the war to a potential end. Subsequently it was ratified by the UNSC.

The important clauses of Doha agreement were:

a.   Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) will not allow Afghan soil to be used for terrorism against USA, NATO.

b.   US-NATO will refrain from use of force or meddling in internal affairs of Afghanistan.

c.   Comprehensive ceasefire and Taliban will desist from attacking US-NATO troops in major cities.

d.   IEA will start intra Afghan dialogue and negotiations by 10 March 2020 to arrive at comprehensive political settlement.

e.   Both parties will retain control over their respective areas until formation of new Afghan Government.

f.    The US will seek economic cooperation and reconstruction of Afghanistan.

g.   In first phase from 13 March to 27 July 2020 (135 days), 5000 US troops will be pulled out leaving behind 8600.

h.   Complete withdrawal of foreign forces completed by May 2021.  

i.     Release of 5000 prisoners of Taliban and 1000 US/ANSF soldiers by the start of intra-Afghan dialogue on 10 March at Oslo, and the rest within three months.

j.    Removal of Taliban leaders from UN/US blacklist and end to economic sanctions on Taliban by 27 August 2020. 

Inferences

The US would carryout withdrawal of 13000 American troops in two phases in 14 months. Although this is a much shorter timetable than the one given by Obama which was 3 ½ years long, this time delay could also be on purpose.

Signing of an agreement implies that the US has lost the war, but ego restrains it from admitting its defeat. It is eager for a face saving and safe exit.

Seeking of economic cooperation implies that USA intends to keep its presence for some more time.

Since no American official signed the peace accord, possibility of U-turn cannot be ruled out. 

Initial Cracks in Peace Agreement

Hardly had the ink dried on the peace agreement, when spoilers sprang into action to derail the agreement and mar the happiness of peace seekers.

Jilted Ashraf Ghani angered over being kept out of the grand event and egged on by India and NDS, threw the first spanner on March 01 by stating that he was not bounded by any agreement to release the prisoners.

Pressured by USA, Ghani issued a decree on 10 March for release of 1500 prisoners and rest in batches of 500, and that too conditional to an undertaking by them that they won’t return to battlefield. Taliban rejected the offer saying that the agreement lays down release of all prisoners in one go.

Taliban withdrew from prisoner swap talks with Kabul regime on 7 April, initiated on 30 March and made the start of talks conditional to release of prisoners. On 8 April, 1000 Taliban prisoners were released.

Ceasefire announced by Taliban during EidulAzha enthused Ghani and he ordered release of 2000 Taliban prisoners a day before Eid.

Response of Taliban

Since Ghani’s acts were in violation of peace agreement, the Taliban renewed their attacks on ANSF positons in districts of Kunduz and Helmand on 3 March. 33 targets were hit in 13 provinces. The US also broke the pledge by carrying out air attack in Helmand in support of beleaguered Afghan soldiers on the following day.

The Taliban reminded that they were free to attack Afghan forces in rural areas, and spring offensive will be launched in first week of April. Between 3 March and 15 April, Taliban undertook 4500 attacks and killed 900 ANSF soldiers. 

The Taliban are determined to establish IEA under AmeerulMomineenMullaAkhundzada and find no place for the collaborators in the future govt.

Mullah Omar’s son MullaYaqub has been appointed overall military commander.

Phased and condition-based release of prisoners was rejected by Taliban.

Americans were told to vacate the country as per schedule and not to worry about safety of their puppet regime.

HaqqaniNetwork(HN) threatened to capture Kabul and said fate of Ghani wouldn’t be different to Dr. Najibullah.  

Postmortem of 18 Years’ War

Post 9/11 war on terror is the longest war ever waged by USA in its entire history, which has still not terminated.

In 2009, the occupiers abandoned boots on ground strategy, bunkered themselves in military bases, relied wholly on airpower and drones, and used 250,000 ANA to undertake ground operations.

Change in posture helped the Taliban to gain initiative, which could not be regained by the occupying forces. Thereon, it was a losing battle but the US kept reinforcing failure with zero result.

Obama took the credit of dismantling and defeating Al-Qaeda, where as it was done by Pakistan.

The US tried hard to divide Taliban movement by pitching HN against Taliban, or to create leadership crisis but failed.

HN was painted as the most dreadful monster. 

Pakistan was made a scapegoat by USA to hide US failures.

Plight of the people of Afghanistan and that of the women is as dismal as it was, if not worst. 

During five-year rule of Taliban, poppy growing was almost eliminated in Afghanistan, but now it has become the biggest narcotic den and exporter of opium in the world.   

CIA is the biggest beneficiary of drug business, and it has been supporting covert operations with the help of drug money. 

Having spent $ 2 trillion in Afghanistan and lost 2400 soldiers, (total casualties of coalition forces 3550), USA couldn’t accomplish any of its stated and hidden objectives.  Instead, it has melted its economy, lost its prestige and earned hatred of the world.

The US drew no lessons from history that it is easier to enter Afghanistan, but most difficult to get out of it and that historically it has been the graveyard of empires. 

The US ignored the fact that Afghanistan is a tribal society which shuns modernism, democracy and alien culture. Governed by Pashtunwali, Mullahs and tribalism reign supreme and ethnicity is stronger than religion.

Afghans are at war for the last 40 years and the third generation is currently fighting the war and to them, hardships, sufferings, casualties and time do not matter.

The US and its partners wanted to tire out and exhaust the Taliban and to break their will to fight, which they couldn’t.

While the resistance forces are upbeat and full of fight to free their country, the occupiers have got tired and exhausted. They are demoralized and have no heart left to continue fighting and that too without a cause. They are suffering from post-stress disorders, committing suicides, and are desperate to return home.

Victory against the Soviets was a miracle of 20^th century.The Mujahideen had seven groups under seven commanders and were supported by Pakistan, USA and the free world.

This miracle is much more awe-inspiring since the Taliban turned the tide single-handed as one entity under one commander.

Power hungry Ghani, Abdullah and warlords are interested in power only and not in peaceful Afghanistan. 

War on terror has all the gains for the deceitful Indo-Israeli axis.

The duo obsessed with global ambitions is instrumental in plunging the fortunes of USA.

By staying out of war,Russia and China consolidated their respective military and economic power. They are merrily watching the endgame of the declining sole super power with a twinkle in their eyes.

Pakistan had a big hand in facilitating peace process culminating in peace agreement.

Troop drawdown by USA has been made conditional to control of violence, which provides Washington flexibility to sabotage the peace agreement and to continue maintaining its residual presence.

Salfi group’s alignment has further strengthened Taliban.

Jihadi Afghanistan, Revolutionary Iran and Islamic Pakistan are unacceptable to USA, Israel and India.

TheUS commenced thinning out of troops from Bagram base on 14 March.