Afghanistan has long been a country with turbulent and tempestuous history because of its geopolitical – geographical – geostrategical location. Global powers for many years since alexander the great tried to control and contain this country. The main reason was to get military and political supremacy over global and regional powers. Great Britain fought three back to back wars to get complete control of this country but eventually liberated Afghanistan in 1919 whose independence was followed by the liberation of other sub continental countries. Russia made the same attempt in 1979 but failed to do so and left Afghanistan after nine years of military engagement.
After 9/11, USA has been at war in this country for the last 20 years but there is no conclusive evidence of progress in this conflict. They finally struck a peace deal with Taliban which paves the way for the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan. Global powers’ entry and exit shows that this country has been the point of conflict – controversy – conspiracy among global powers. Afghanistan has become world’s poorest country because of these wars and is faced with multiple economical – social – political challenges. Global powers like Great Britain, Russia and USA have also suffered humanly and economically because of continuous wars and conflicts in this country. As a whole, we can say that all sides have been the losers so far in this country and there is no winner at all.
From a political standpoint, we can say that Belgium also had the same geography and history. France, Germany and other European counties would fight their wars in Belgium. Years later, all European countries declared this country as a neutral state and demilitarized the whole country. Afterwards, it became a country with advanced tourism and industry. Belgium enjoys friendly relationship with all regional and global countries. It is no longer the country of dispute and disagreement but is the country of travels, tourism, economy and education.
Afghanistan can also become the country of coordination – cooperation – collaboration among regional and global powers because of its geopolitical – geographical – geostrategical location. Afghanistan can become a focal point for international trade – transit and transport and can give global and regional countries a chance to work together on multilateral plans – programs – projects. All powers should accept the legitimate position of each other and reach a consensus – compromise – commitment because past losers will become future winners if they can get to a unified viewpoint and a logical settlement.
The regional countries have a lot in common in terms of economy, social structures, political systems, religion, and national ethnicity. All these factors can be used to bring harmony and compromise among nations and will play a vital role in the development – improvement – advancement of the region. They can work more effectively and efficiently using abovementioned characteristics and features of their countries – communities – cultures. Global powers can effectively engage in the implementation of mega regional and national projects which can equally benefit and serve their interest.
Afghanistan and the region is rich with mines and minerals, favorable for trade, has extensive land for agriculture, with chances for the industrialization of the region. Projects like TAPI, Casa 1000, and TUTAP can change the future of this region. Projects like these can create everlasting friendship – relationship – partnership among counties and can ensure the regional connectivity, commercialization, and communication because it would pave the way for the peace – progress and prosperity of the whole region. All global powers can also contribute to the implementation of these projects which can be beneficial for them and everyone in the region and even the world. All countries should reach a compromise – consensus – commitment about Afghanistan and everyone now realizes that there is no military solution for the afghan conflict. Doha agreement, Moscow meeting and Istanbul conference are showing the efforts to put an end to the afghan conflict and reach an agreeable settlement which can favor all sides. It should ultimately bring security – stability – solidarity to Afghanistan and whole region which has extensively suffered because of regular conflicts and wars. Their past was terrible and tragic but future can be fabulous and fantastic which would change the fortune of whole region and even whole world because historically this region had been the trade – transit – transport rout between east and west which had connected the whole world.
