Imran Maroof
It has always been echoed by the experts on Afghanistan that a regional approach for Afghanistan’s economic, political and security situation betterment, would be feasible and long lasting for bringing the desired peace and prosperity , rather than approaching and mediating extra-regional plans in Afghanistan. Afghanistan’s National Unity Government had although strived for enhancing the regional approach for securing the Afghanistan’s future, but there had been severe economic and security crisis, which were not dealt amicably by the sitting government of Afghanistan. Besides, there had been some fundamental mistakes committed by Afghan leadership to realize and understand about their true friends and foes in regional and international arena. As far as Afghanistan’s government is concerned, probably it did little to augment regional solutions for its long lasting problems. During the month of April 2015, President Ghani visited the Islamic Republic of Iran. After meetings with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Hassan Rouhani, the two countries pledged greater cooperation in the areas of security information sharing, counter -narcotics, the sharing of water resources, refugees and migrants. During the same month, Afghan President Ghani also visited India, where he met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Pranab Mukherjee. During the said visit, India showed her desperation over joining the Afghanistan – Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement. On the other hand, while India keeping her options open and having an alternate route started cooperating with Iran to develop the Chabahar port to overcome the impact of non availability of Pakistan’s route. On Chabahar’s development, there have been some reservations from China also, as initially China maintained the stance of being “not-jealous” of the project but obviously there are some strategic fine tuning, required by China.
Furthering the regional approach, the Afghan Lower house of the National Assembly ratified a strategic partnership agreement with Turkey, aimed at promoting further cooperation in the fields of governance, social, economic and political affairs. Discussions on Afghanistan, including on security and economic issues, continued in multilateral cooperation forums. Activities under the Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process included regional technical group meetings on confidence-building measures, namely, counter -terrorism during in Ankara and counter-narcotics. Besides, meetings of Heart of Asia – Istanbul Process ,all were centered on regional cooperation to address security challenges and the Afghan peace process, including the role of the region, as well as regional priorities for economic connectivity. The International Contact Group on Afghanistan also met in Kabul to consider issues related to security, the Tokyo Mutual Accountability Framework, human rights, elections and regional dialogue. At meetings of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, Besides, the Commonwealth of Independent States , Ministers for foreign affairs discussed the situation in Afghanistan. Central Asian representatives expressed increasing concern at the spread of violent extremism from Afghanistan and agreed to strengthen their southern borders. Similar concerns were expressed during a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Moscow, at which Afghanistan was represented for the first time as an observer. Experts agree that securing borders required a multidimensional but regional approach for incorporating the development and technological aspects, backed by political will of Afghanistan and the regional countries.
A number of high-level contacts between Afghanistan and Pakistan have helped towards improving their bilateral relationship and demonstrating the will of both countries to enhance their political and military cooperation. During his earlier visit to Kabul , Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif reiterated the country support for the National Unity Government and for an Afghan -led and Afghan- owned peace process. Visits to Kabul were also made by Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff. It is quite astonishing that whenever some thing positive appeared on the Pak- Afghan canvas, the team and the elements of mistrust in Afghanistan got activated, while making high pitched hue and cries for its failures and negative outputs. Most of these elements in Afghanistan are groomed by the India, they are so negatively involved in the day to day affairs of the state that they have even not bothered to cater for the poor Afghan patients willing to get medical treatment from India. India has set aside the humanitarian aspects to address the medical problems of Afghans. Reportedly, India has recently imposed restrictions on the visa of poor Afghan nationals. As per the new rule, visa applications should provide bank statement and certificate of getting the medical treatment, by presenting a report from concerned doctor; stating that the patient could not be treated in Afghanistan. The issue has also been raised in Afghanistan Wolesi Jirga to condemn said policy for Afghans. Whereas, as per Pakistan’s policy, Pakistan has always welcomed Afghan brethren to get speedy visa and normally such visas are processed on priority, their medical related visa request have never been denied, same are served to them within 24 – 48 hours. One could observe personally witness the bulk of such Afghan patients in the private hospitals of Khyber PakhtunKhwa. In another instance, when Afghan National Directorate of Security and the Pakistani Inter -Services Intelligence signed a memorandum of understanding on counter -terrorism cooperation. Despite of high level meetings from both sides for discussing a number of issues pertaining to peace and stability, counter -terrorism, border security, economic cooperation, Afghan refugees and regional cooperation, no significant out put or acknowledgement have ever surfaced form Afghan side, it speaks of their commitment towards bringing peace and prosperity in Afghanistan. In such a depressing scenario, where Afghanistan has failed to respond towards the positive responses from Pakistan, the Afghan Government needs to realize that peace and prosperity of both the countries are interknitted with each other and they both must work together to defeat and uproot the extremism ad terrorism for gaining the perceived peace and prosperity .
