India, Pak should together engage Taliban

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India, Pak should together engage Taliban

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• How it ended: Finally, when India was celebrating its 74th anniversary of the end of British rule (75th independence day), Afghanistan was "celebrating" the end of the "forever war" waged by a mighty foreign power. The corrupt government of Ashraf Ghani was uprooted.
• A second Saigon moment: When the US had to run away from Vietnam in 1975, it was the end of a long, self-destructive war of aggression. Just in July 2021, President Joe Biden had expressed faith in the Afghan military's ability to hold back the Taliban challenge. 15th August saw a total collapse of the Afghan National Army (ANA).
• Two truths: It seems that US is in sharp decline, and that lethal weapons don't guarantee any victory in such wars.

1. The reputation of US will be hit hard, as it was forced to exit without achieveing any of the stated objectives
2. The huge sums spent in war proved futile, finally; the Taliban fought the American air power, and an organised army, while having none of that with themselves

• Understanding the Taliban: From one angle, despite their bloody past, they look like Afghan patriots who were ready to battle the mightiest power on Earth (which invaded their country). The Taliban, and other non-Taliban patriots (e.g. Ahmad Shah Massoud) did so when the USSR invaded in 1979. The mighty Soviets retreated in 1989. The US entered in 2001, and is exiting in 2021.
• Like it or not: A Taliban-led govt. in Kabul has happened, like it or not. India has to recognise it sooner or later, because many others would. But Taliban may not truly gain legitimacy either in Afghan eyes, or global fraternity of nations, due to their past excesses.
• Earlier trouble: The extremely fanatic interpretation of Islam had led them to curtail women's rights, reduce non-Muslims to second class citizens, destroy the Bamyan Buddha (humanity's common heritage), etc. Where is the remorse for that? Where is self-reform?
• Three big present concerns: First, the world wants it to not harbour any terror group. Second, all minorities must be protected fully, as must be the women. Third, a new govt. that works on national reconciliation and reconstruction is needed.

1. Global reality is such that neither other groups inside Afghanistan, nor Pakistan or China, will allow the Taliban to export terror at all
2. Pakistan too is wary of it, and has been hit by terror since 1980s
3. Iran would never want a fanatic Sunni govt. in Kabul

• The signals: Some Talibani leaders (eg. Suhal Shaheen) have indicated that moderation is the key. Another has said it doesn't want Wahhabism in Afghanistan. India may now start talking with the Taliban, as a mature nation that doesn't want past to dictate the future.
• A second Vietnam: The small country called Vietnam rose from the ashes and became a miracle nation. Can Afghanistan too repeat that? Perhaps yes, if it can avoid external interference, and adopt moderation.

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