Since its invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, the United States has repeatedly adopted new strategies for the country in order to break free of the quagmire; however, none of them have been concentrated on the fundamental, long-term resolution of the conflict. The military option has constantly proved futile during this time, yet the US has given more priority to the use of force over political solution in its strategies, something that has unfortunately exacerbated the problem. It is all because the US has not put a squeeze on the side which is openly supporting the insurgents, and as a result, the war has intensified in Afghanistan.
Seventeen years after the United States began the war in Afghanistan, there is the assumption that Washington, disappointed by the gridlocked Afghan conflict, may hand over the war to a notorious American mercenary firm, the Blackwater now renamed as Academi. Although the US administration has so far rejected the idea of privatizing the Afghan war, President Trump can be expected to go for the option. If Trump’s disappointment at the Afghan war continues, and Blackwater founder Erik Prince is creating the unrealistic sound bites that he can end the Afghan war in six months, Trump is likely to make a surprising decision.
Now, the Afghan government’s standing is key here. Addressing a gathering in Kabul on Monday, President Ashraf Ghani categorically rejected the proposition. He said no foreign mercenaries will be allowed to operate in Afghanistan. The fallouts of privatization of Afghan war are clear. When a war becomes a profitable business, its cessation means the end of revenue, a scenario which no businessman will ever be willing to go for.
On the other hand, it is not realistic to win a war, which has gone on for decades and over 150,000 heavily-equipped international troops could not contain, with less than 4,000 contactors and in six months. The best option for both America and Afghanistan is to pursue a political solution to the conflict. If half of the focus on the war is shifted to the political settlement, Afghanistan can steer clear of the bloodshed after decades, and the United States will no longer be compelled to spend billions of dollars on the unwinnable war annually. A peaceful solution, of course, requires firm resolve and relentless efforts.
Afghanistan’s opposition to privatization of war
