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Sep 8, 2014

Afghanistan-Pakistan crisis may require policy correction by China and India

Afghanistan-Pakistan area  has entered  an extremely chaotic phase . With no government formation in Afghanistan even in distant site while the situation in neighboring Pakistan remains tense with military commanders  intent to clutch  any opportunity  to stage a coup

in connivance with Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency,Tehrik –e-Taliban  and  politician Imran Khan's PTI .

Afghan Taliban have intensified  the attacks on various  government institutions and other strategic locations to engulf the major chunk of the country  in their fold.  On the other side Al Qaeda Leader Ayman AL Zawahri announced  the establishment  of the Indian terror wing to wage jihad in the Indian subcontinent and also pledging its allegiance  to Mullah Omar, in return for the safe haven he granted their followers in Afghanistan.

Threatened by the growing influence  of Islamic state  terror army that is   straddling  the border of Iraq and Syria , Zawahri made the announcement to give a direction and shape  to the jihadists groups in the Indian sub-continent  and to start a jihad  under the aegis of Talibans  and other extremists groups. The existing extremists groups in Afghanistan-Pakistan region are facing identity crisis as  Islamic State has recruiters all over the Western world seeking out new members though social media or known jihadi supporters in Canada, Britain, the U.S
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This is a tactical move to destabilize the region that may pose  dangers even for China,India ,Japan and other countries of ASEAN region

It may not be out of place to mention that political deterioration in Pakistan  has infact resulted as Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif took upon North Waziristan as persuaded by China to check the jihadists from moving into Xinjiang.

China's Xinjiang and Pakistan's political scene

China  who is witnessing frequent attacks in Xinjiang, a sprawling desert region bordering Tibet, Central Asia and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) that is home to the Uighurs, an ethnic Turkic Muslim minority group.

Chinese government have blamed recent similar attacks on extremist groups active in Xinjiang, such as the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) which is campaigning for independence and believe that ETIM’s leaders are hiding in Balochistan and north Waziristan.


Pakistan government resorted to military  operation in north Waziristan but this action resulted  in long marches by Imran Khan who has close links with Taliban  and is hell bent on securing resignation of  Pakistan PM Nawaz . Even Pakistan Army chief Gen. Raheel Sharif  lashed out Nawaz Government  over the treason trial of former army chief Gen. Pervez Musharraf, marking the first time the military's previously behind-the-scenes frustration .
Backed by Pakistani military ,Canadian-Pakistani cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri  is doing everything to topple the civilian government through mass protests.


The  stark conclusion is that Pakistan  civilian Government  cannot  fulfill China’s ambitions in controlling jihadists  in that country.While,Nawaz Sharif  is trying  utmost to contain the political situation in his country

Twin Talibans

 Pakistan having  taken part  in repulsion of Soviet  invasion  gained extraordinary  influence  over the Taliban and have  since been harbouring burning desire  to use Afghanistan for their strategic  interests (terming it as  strategic depth of Pak) it also resulted  in the creation of  Tehrik e Taliban Pakistan in the northern Waziristan and the interaction between the Afghan Taliban and the Pakistan Taliban became  the headache for the entire world.


It is in this context Hamid Karzai  has been warning Pakistan not to meddle  in Afghan affairs . India is also facing  consequences of the activities  of these twin  Talibans.
Afghan crisis

Now the delay in  announcing the 2014 Afghan presidential election results  due to  vote audit process designed to eliminate the  fraudulent  ballots casts for the two contenders  Abdullah and Ashraf  has enabled the Talibans an opportunity for resurgence.

Talibans are regrouping  and conducting assaults  at various places  to enhance their  sphere  of influence  with a view  to seize  a role  in the government that may  soon come into effect

Abdullah Abdullah who is time and again threatening to pull out of the vote audit process  may amount to plunge his  country in further chaos only to fulfil his personal ambition of becoming the president  announced  that "The political process has reached a deadlock."

Both Abdullah and his rival, Ashraf Ghani, claim to have won the disputed June 14 run-off election. The candidates have expressed concern about election fraud and the recount process.

During kerry’s visit to Afghanistan in august, Abdullah and his rival, Ashraf Ghani signed a US brokered deal  to form a national unity government  under which the loser of the presidential  vote will become the CEO which will be converted  to that of PM  as this violates the  country’s constitution ,the  president will convene  loya jirga or grand council to formalize the arrangement . The president will also create  the position of opposition leader  to be appointed by the runner up  and both the winner and the loser  will select certain posts in national security and economic institutions to secure stability  on the country.

Torn between ethnic and tribal division  Afghanistan is in dire need of a popular  leader  possessing skills to handle  transitions  and challenges  in a deft manner  as Karzai  who has been credited  with for ruling the country successfully for 10 years  and also leading the democratic transfer of power  and is likely to play a prominent role in the new Afghan government. He can also contest the Afghan presidential elections  in 2019

Role of neighbours
Afghanistan’s reconstruction political and security apparatus  should logically be the shared responsibility  of the international community and the regional states.

This should be an eye opener for China  to properly weigh its policy with respect to Tibet, and India particularly involving the states of Arunachal Pradesh and whipping up boundary issues  that may hinder its own interests in Afghanistan,Pakistan and Central Asia .Harmonization of relations between India, china  and Japan appear more pertinent  at this juncture when the region is facing twin threats –one  by radical Islam and other the political crisis in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The relations between India , China  and Japan  have to be altered  drastically  to cope  with the happenings and challenges  taking place  in the Muslim World.

US cannot afford  to shun   the responsibility   of giving a long term stability to this region  having invested vast resources including political and diplomatic efforts . Obama administration is contemplating  the establishment  of bases in  and  around the vicinity of this region  this becomes all the most pertinent  in view of  the ultra jihadists  ISIS  that are straddling in the region of Syria  and Iraq  and are recruiting  world wide to become a terror army.

During his first visit to India ,Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and is expected to announce major Chinese investments as well as hold talks on border dispute as well as China's plans to revive a number of Silk Road Projects including the Maritime Silk Road.

Thus,India  China  and Afghanistan  has the wherewithal to jointly coordinate  for the stability of this region and  they will have to ensure  that changing political scene in Pakistan may not create problems for Afghanistan

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