The statement by Michael Semple, a UN official arrested by the Afghan government on Christmas Day last year, brings to the fore many vital aspects of the conflict in Afghanistan.
First and foremost is that there are many Afghan leaders, not only in Kabul, but all over the country, who have vested interests in maintaining status quo. Though western objectives in the country have not been met (a worried US is asking its allies to send in more troops), these Afghans are enjoying the clout and money in the present regime.
They do not have to do the fighting; NATO is doing it and keeping the Taliban at bay. Moreover they are keen that Taliban is not brought into the mainstream of Afghan politics, as it would mean loss of their clout.
Semple firmly believes that some elements of the Taliban could be coaxed to join the national government in Kabul and to stop fighting the US and NATO forces. There have long been suggestions of trying to pull in the ‘good’ elements of the Taliban. ‘Good’ meaning the moderate elements in the group. The problem the US hasn’t the faintest idea of how to go about it.
In fact political games played by the status-quoist elements in the Afghan polity will continue to hinder any moves in this direction.
Semple brought to light another disturbing fact; that personal enmities are being settled by labeling a person as a Taliban sympathizer. The western forces, ignorant of the local situation, then go after those thus branded, ultimately driving them into the arms of Taliban. These revelations bring into sharp focus the fact that Karzai’s government has no say in large parts of Afghanistan. It has failed to establish its sway over these areas, and I do not mean only militarily.
Unscrupulous elements and Taliban have filled this vacuum. US still has a long way to go in Afghanistan.
Source: Guardian
