Afghan conflict: US Secretary of State's contact with Pakistan

 

Eventually, US officials decided to maintain high-level contacts with Pakistan, and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken called Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi to discuss Afghan issues. Anthony Blinken assured that the United States would continue its support for peace in Afghanistan, regional stability and the elimination of Corona.

The telephone conversation between the foreign ministers of the two countries is important in the sense that Anthony Blanken had earlier ordered Prime Minister Imran Khan to speak instead of the foreign minister, to which Pakistani officials assured him that the prime minister will speak with the US president only. Blanken should talk to his counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi. US officials persisted in their decision not to contact Pakistan for several weeks, but as the situation in Afghanistan changed, the United States had to change its approach and contact Pakistan in accordance with diplomatic protocol. The United States has been part of the Afghan conflict for the past 45 years.

The United States used Afghanistan as a battlefield to overthrow the Soviet Union. Pakistan's role in this war was of a fundamental nature, which the United States put in the swing of Charlie Wilson and the CIA after the victory. Pakistan received gifts like refugees, drugs, weapons and professional differences during this period. Had the Afghan Taliban not emerged under Mullah Omar's leadership, Pakistan would have been further affected by the negative effects coming from Afghanistan. The Taliban under Mullah Omar's leadership rendered ineffective the factions fighting for power in Afghanistan.

The Taliban ended the insurgency on the Pak-Afghan border. He was recognized by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, but the rest of the world ignored Afghanistan and the Taliban and went about their business. The Taliban were not responsible for the 9/11 attacks. When the Taliban refused to hand over Osama bin Laden at the request of the United States, the United States invaded with 30 countries. It was a strong position of a poor and weak country according to its traditions which the United States failed to change. The rest of history is that the United States came to Afghanistan with an agenda to fight terrorism but after the death of Osama bin Laden. Instead of going back, he started a new plan with India against China and Pakistan. The United States announced its withdrawal from Afghanistan for the first time by 2014. President Trump announced his withdrawal during his tenure when no significant arrangements were made for his return. Pakistan persuaded the Afghan Taliban to negotiate first with the United States and then with the Afghan government. When the United States was killing innocent children and Afghan citizens in the name of the war on terror, it was Pakistan that took the position that the war in the Afghan conflict was not the solution. The US ignored Pakistan and planned to protect its interests in Afghanistan through India. The plan failed due to unrealistic expectations.

The Taliban are claiming control of 85 percent of Afghanistan. The Taliban have seized control of the border areas with Tajikistan and Iran. There are recent reports that Afghan security forces are surrendering in many parts of Kandahar. The Taliban are also saying this. No external force should interfere in Afghanistan. The Taliban have adopted a better strategy of maintaining regular contact with China, Russia, Iran and Pakistan. The Taliban have promised to protect the diplomatic staff of various countries.

US experts familiar with Pakistan and Afghanistan have been advising President Joe Biden to speak to the Pakistani leadership himself. A few days ago, Senator Lance Graham warned President Biden that ignoring Pakistan during its withdrawal from Afghanistan could lead to disaster. Recently, an American journalist asked Prime Minister Imran Khan during an interview what If he wanted to contact President Biden, the prime minister's response was in line with diplomatic and national dignity that Biden could call him whenever he had time. If the US role after the withdrawal was based on detachment, the consequences could be many.

Organizations like ISIS can make their home in Afghanistan, not only the countries of the region but also American interests can be insecure. The United States should persuade the Afghan government to take advantage of the Taliban's offer of power-sharing. President Ashraf Ghani and his allies are deliberately creating an environment in which the Taliban can invade Kabul and shed human blood. The Taliban have so far handled matters with restraint and wisdom. The United States has negotiated with them and recognized them as a legal force. If a new political system is introduced in Afghanistan under the leadership of the Taliban, then the United States, the United Nations and NATO should recognize it so that the world can get rid of an old armed conflict.