Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has cautioned the world against abandoning Afghanistan after Taliban’s takeover of Kabul. According to the foreign minister, such a move would give space to international terrorist organizations and have dangerous consequences.FM Qureshi expressed his view during a meeting with British Foreign Secretary Dominic Robb, who is paying a two-day visit to Islamabad. The British Foreign Secretary said that Pakistan’s role in the region is of utmost importance and hoped that the Taliban would bring peace and stability to Afghanistan. He also announced humanitarian assistance to Kabul.
A lot of fuss has been made about Pakistan’s role in the Afghan mess right through the war against terrorism. And some major international media outlets and at least one country are still bent upon keeping its position controversial even as much of the world is coming round to appreciating what it has done to help bring the war to an end, with the evacuations that followed and, especially, with the way it is helping the international community to understand the truths about the new Afghanistan.
The British government is the latest to come here for advice as reflected in the words of its foreign secretary, Dominic Raab, after his meeting with Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi in Islamabad, to the effect that though London is not ready to recognise the Taliban government just yet, it still wants to “engage” with them. This is quite an achievement considering that the British government usually officially recognises states not governments, and the technical novelty in this case owes in no small matter to the way Pakistan is convincing important international capitals to appreciate the new reality on the ground.
Basically, the Western bloc has two major concerns: they want guarantees from the Taliban that the movement will respect fundamental rights, including women’s rights, and that the new rulers will not allow Afghanistan to become a hotbed for international terrorist movements. Considering the Taliban’s last stint in power, these are valid concerns. However, building trust works both ways. The Taliban must prove through their actions that they will form an inclusive set-up that respects human rights, and religious and ethnic differences while ensuring that Afghan soil is not used for terrorism.
For their part, the Western states — that are particularly concerned about Afghan stability because they do not want a fresh wave of migrants headed to their shores — must engage with the Taliban to the extent possible, as isolating the group may drive them, once again, into the arms of even more hard-line actors. As Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi told his British counterpart, the Taliban are the “new reality” in Kabul.
It is essential at this point for all stakeholders to realize how crucial will be a peaceful, stable Afghanistan, whose government can enforce its writ, to enforce security of movement within its territory. That is a goal which must be met if not just Afghanistan, but also its neighbours, are to enjoy a peace dividend. It should also not be forgotten that its precisely this degree of control that China needs from Afghanistan, if its One Belt One Road initiative is to enjoy success.
