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14 Feb 2018 - 11:23
author avatar
14 Feb 2018 - 11:23

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) visited Kabul on 13 and 14 January in order to assess the current situation of Afghanistan. The Council visits came after seven years at a time that Afghanistan is in a stalemate on battlefield and the peace process has not been able to make headways. The war between militants and Afghan security forces has considerably intensified across all parts of the country and group proclaiming to be the Afghan wing of Islamic State (IS), IS-Khurasan, is also in the process of announcing itself on the battlefield.

Following the drawdown of the international forces and handover of the combat mission to Afghan Security Forces, there has been surge in activities of the armed opposition groups. Taliban overran, albeit briefly, capital of Kunduz province in the North and nearly took control of centers of Laghman in the East and Helmand in the South. On the other hand, the so-called IS-Khurasan has also been trying to impose itself through a number of militant activities in different parts of Afghanistan. The latest IS attack was against the international NGO Save the Children in eastern Jalalabad city.  

The Afghan Government has been lobbying with its international partners, including the UNSC, to convince them that Pakistan. The network was declared to be behind last week’s deadly attack on Intercontinental Hotel  claiming 40 lives including a number of foreigners while the same group was responsible for fatal sewage tanker attack in in diplomatic area last summer.

The diplomatic efforts of Kabul countries recognize Pakistan as catalyst behind exponential increase of violence in Afghanistan. President Trump plainly expressed his frustration about the double game of Pakistan in a Tweet on New Year day. Earlier, in August 2017 Trump Administration announced a new strategy for South Asia asking Pakistan to dismantle terror sanctuaries. Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa (BRICS) in the 2017 summit declaration called upon Pakistan to renounce terror outfits.

Head of the visiting delegation of the UNSC, Kiarat Umarove, prior to the mission, said that the UNSC was exploring development of a comprehensive strategy and for the purpose wanted to analyze the situation on the ground. The delegation, during their stay in Kabul, met with a diverse group of people and institutions including National Unity Government (NUG) leadership, the High Peace Council representatives were a few to mention. Meeting such a large set of institutions meant that the UNSC was considering a comprehensive strategy for Afghanistan in order to help Kabul stand up to the challenges.  

The UNSC mission in first place has been interpreted that international partners of Afghanistan have realized that they needed to refocus their support to Afghanistan. Having invested for 16 years in the country on fighting terrorism and state building leaving the country on its own may result in evaporation of a decade and half long achievements. The establishment of democratic governance system, progress on rights of women, a thriving civil society and establishment of national security forces were the achievements that helped Afghanistan become a responsible state as part of global community.  

The latest UNSC mission was able to accumulate first-hand information vis a vis Pakistan’s interferences in Afghan affairs and military encroachments alongside the Durand Line. The Afghan Government shared evidences of Pakistani meddling in the Afghan affairs, its role in deterrence of the peace process and providing sanctuaries to the militant groups. This could change the impression of UNSC members, particularly Russia and China, about Pakistan which could help the Afghan Government enhance international pressure on Islamabad and accumulate much needed support for Kabul in its bid to peace and reconciliation.

Furthermore, since the UNSC mission visited Kabul with a comprehensive approach lens, they should have come to know about NUGs initiative regarding reforms and infrastructure development. Kabul has been linking peace and security with regional connectivity for broader economic stability of the region, a vision aligned to that of China. Afghanistan will particularly be hoping to have gained China and Russia’s sympathy, the two most important regional actors as far as Afghan connectivity, security and stability is concerned, the later lately suspected of establishing links with the Taliban.

A revised UNSC strategy for Afghanistan could ensure that it responds to the needs of Afghanistan. UNSC should come up with a strategy that will translate Afghan hopes into practice in terms of limiting Pakistan’s intrusion in Afghan affairs. Moreover, the new strategy could help in convergence of Chinese and Russian strategies with that of the US on Afghanistan as part of broader UN strategy. In such case, Afghanistan would have been able to harness backing of almost every single country that matters in Afghan affairs except Pakistan, a country recognized as spoiler by Kabul. A revised, multifaceted and comprehensive strategy answering all problems of the country and endorsed by the mighty five i.e. the US, Russia, China, France and the UK besides other rotating members of UNSC could be a game changer for Afghanistan, a country right now fighting for survival on a thin line between stability and collapse.  

View expressed in this article are of the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Pajhwok’s editorial policy.

 

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The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect Pajhwok's editorial policy.

Author's brief introduction

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Mushtaq Rahim (Twitter: @mushtaq_rahim) is an Afghanistaninfo-icon based analyst and political commentator. He is also founding member of Afghanistan Diplomacy Studies Organization, a Kabulinfo-icon based think-tank. He has been working in Afghanistan for the last 15 years working on post conflict development, strengthening of rule of law and promotion of good governance. He has Master of Business Administration and Master of Arts in Conflict, Peace and Security.

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