[op-ed snap] The Taliban problem: On the Afghan crisis

Context

The U.S.-Taliban talks collapsed last week. Taliban threatened to step up attacks in Afghanistan. 

The security situation in Afghanistan

• It used two suicide bombers who killed at least 48 people by targeting a rally being addressed by Ashraf Ghani. 
• These attacks are yet another warning of the security challenges Afghanistan faces. Particularly before the presidential polls.
• Both the 2014 presidential election and last year’s parliamentary poll were violently disturbed by the Taliban. 
• This time, they asked civilians to stay away from political gatherings, making all those who participate in the political process of potential targets. 

Taliban

• Rising attacks against Afghan civilians make the Taliban’s claim of fighting on behalf of them hollow. 
• The Taliban did not suspend its terror campaign even while holding talks with the U.S. in Qatar. 
• Now that the talks have collapsed, a vengeful Taliban is unleashing itself.
• Threat from the Taliban is so grave that the President is largely addressing campaign rallies through Skype. 

Afghanistan situation

• The Afghan government is determined to go ahead with the election. 
• Even if the elections are over without further attacks, the Taliban problem will remain. 
• The fundamental problem with the U.S.-Taliban peace process was that it excluded the Kabul government at the insistence of the insurgents.
• The Taliban was not even ready to cease hostilities. A peace agreement dictated by the Taliban won’t sustain.
• A permanently unstable Afghanistan and Taliban growing in strength is not good news for Afghanistan’s neighbours.

Solution

• Regional and international players should help the new government. 
• The Taliban can’t be allowed to have a free terror run. 
• Afghanistan needs a comprehensive peace push in which all stakeholders, including the government, the U.S., the Taliban, and regional players will have a say. 
• The U.S. should continue to back the Kabul government.
• It should put pressure on Pakistan to crack down on the Afghan Taliban, double down its counter-insurgency operations in Afghanistan.
• The US should also invite regional players such as Pakistan, Iran, Russia, India, and China to take part in the diplomatic efforts. 
• The Taliban should be forced to return to talks. 

Conclusion

The U.S.-Taliban peace talks may have collapsed. But it need not be the end of the road for finding a settlement for the Afghan crisis.