The support of regional states for the American invasion of Afghanistan helped the United States to overthrow the Taliban regime within a short space of time. The united stance of Washington, Moscow, New Delhi, Beijing, Islamabad and even Tehran on Afghanistan at that time helped the United States to maintain a relative stability in Afghanistan with limited resources and a small military presence. The first few years of the US invasion of Afghanistan were mostly peaceful. The lull in war and violence in the country had injected hopes in Afghans for a bright future. They thought the “black days” were over, and their country would gradually gain economic self-sufficiency, and there also would be no more wars. However, the events that unfolded later were against their expectations. The growing skepticism about American intentions effectively broke down the regional consensus on Afghanistan. Pakistan was the first country to depart from the consensus. Islamabad was portraying itself as a NATO ally, but in fact, it fully supported, and still continues to support anti-Afghan government elements. The rising Daesh activities in Afghanistan despite the presence of thousands of American troops prompted some regional countries to halt their cooperation with the US. The experience of the initial years of the war in Afghanistan showed that regional consensus is indispensable to stability in Afghanistan, without which the West alone cannot stabilize the country. The departure of the United States and Afghan government from the regional consensus, despite the great significance it has, realizes the suspicions that they both lack the political will to work for the negotiated settlement of the Afghan conflict.
Scared of a spillover of terrorism into the Central Asia states, Russia has recently swung into action to facilitate the political settlement of the Afghan imbroglio. As part of its efforts, Russia is set to host a conference in Moscow next month on Afghan peace in which Taliban representatives from their political office in Doha, the capital of Qatar, will also attend. While Washington has boycotted the Moscow meetings from the beginning, the Afghan government has also refused this time to participate in the meeting apparently due to American pressure. The refusal of Washington and Kabul to attend the Moscow peace conference is a wrong decision. At least the Afghan side, which is ever in dire need of political settlement of the conflict, should have not made such a decision.
It is understandable that Afghan government needs US assistance and support to survive, but we should also not forget that we have a shared destiny with regional countries. However long the US may extend its military presence in Afghanistan, it will have to pull out one day. However, Afghanistan and the region will still be here. The cost of friendship with the United States should not trigger animosity with the entire region.
Friendship with US at the cost of regional enmity
