Boston Bombings:US-Russia cooperation essential to combat Islamist terrorism

The involvement of two Chechen nationals in the ‘Boston Bombings’ has brought to the fore the urgency

for a better US-Russia understanding and cooperation/coordination in dealing with Islamist terrorism emanating from Central Asian region and adjoining Afghanistan.

Moscow has already been worrying  about dealing with Islamist terrorists from Afghanistan  making incursions  in former Soviet republics as well as  in Russian territory, after the scheduled   withdrawal of NATO  forces that could create chaotic conditions for Russia.

Twenty five years after the Russian forces left Afghanistan  in utter defeat, a unique US-Russian arrangement  is already underway that could define some sort of  cooperation that could better  the situation after 2014. This arrangement contemplates Russian enterprises undertaking “ service and repairs “  of Afghan army weapons and military hardware consisting mostly of Russian/Soviet built weapons that would constitute the backbone of Afghan army.Western powers had starkly denied its sophisticated weapons to the Afghan forces to retain a military edge  after they leave  this country.

These arrangements  are being negotiated  on purely commercial obligations that would  debar any sort of  Russian troops  in the repair operations in any manner. This cooperation  would additionally  promote coordinated checks on narcotic trafficking  that feeds official corruption and mafia growth undermining the normalcy efforts that benefit both the sides.

Tackling the awful conditions in a country battered by prolonged  occupations and war- like situation is an uphill task. The final phases of these concluding efforts would need utmost caution.Afghans are a sort of peculiar proud people  and will brook  no foreign domination or interference  or even remnant  of foreign troops. Afghanistan president Hamid Karzai has thus been repeatedly requesting, and even imploring  the US authorities  not to leave any scope for Pakistan or even US domination that may soon suddenly worsen the situation  after the withdrawal of NATO troops.

 Historically Afghans have never tolerated foreign domination or interference  on their political authority acting as a puppet to foreign powers. The disastrous rout of British troops   in 1938 amply demonstrates this . The Russian as well as the US  occupation have also shown  how disastrously both squandered  their material and military  resources  and suffered in global prestige .

Now Pakistan even though being  the most nascent and practically split or torn neighbouring nation still harbors  strange ambitions to dominate the  situation , even  unwilling to learn how it has suffered grievously by inviting Islamist fundamentalists to unleash proxy war against India and ironically now being itself at the receiving end  of the entire phenomenon. US however  appears  to have come out wiser now emphasizing US-Russia understanding.

The internal security and stability of this country is perhaps better ensured under its own internal dynamics which may be allowed to take shape under its own leadership.

Afghan society is fiercely divided along tribal, ethnic and sectarian lines. Moreover its north and south division has also contributed to its identity/ stability since remote times. This mainly provides necessary basis for restoring peace and normalcy. One may also recollect how Taliban menace  was routed  by Northern alliance  under Ahmed Shah Masood.

Under the larger context of US “Asia pivot” and “re-set” of US-Russia relations  the deploying of USS Freedom  in the vicinity of Singapore waters and moving US troops  close to Jordan-Syria border appear all the most pertinent under the present circumstances.