America’s backpedaling on commitments with Afghanistan continues to be a major barrier in Kabul-Washington ties. Although both nations have been allies in the war on terror for the past 18 years, Afghans have many questions about the relationship, and greet it with skepticism because Washington not only has broken its promises with Afghanistan but also undervalued countless Afghan sacrifices in the global war on terrorism. Even to an extent that whenever the West, particularly the United States, has had to choose between Pakistan and Afghanistan, it has preferred Pakistan amid the fact that they are fighting their bloody, destructive war on terror in Afghanistan, while Islamabad remains the biggest supporter of terror groups fighting American and NATO forces in addition to Afghan troops in Afghanistan.
Washington is breaking yet another commitment with Afghanistan. Patrick Shanahan, the acting US defense secretary, has signed a proposal based on which military funds would be switched to pay for the construction of the US-Mexican border wall, one of Donald Trump’s election campaign promises. According to the Pentagon’s decision, $604 million from the Afghan Security Forces Fund will also be diverted to the construction work of the wall. This diversion of funds is a betrayal of commitments by United States with regard to its support for Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF).
The reduction in American funds intended for ANDSF comes as Afghan forces are faced with ever more challenges, and therefore in dire need of financial support from the international community, especially the United States. Based on agreements between Kabul and Washington and given the countless sacrifices Afghans have made in the fight against terrorism, funding Afghan forces is the responsibility of the United States.
Afghan government, which is well aware of the problems and shortcomings of Afghan forces, needs to speak out against the Pentagon’s move and compel Washington to honor its commitments. Afghan government’s indifference towards the budget shift from Afghan Security Forces Fund can lead to the immediate loss of Afghan gains achieved over the last two decades.