Grand regional consensus helps boost chances of Afghan conflict resolution: A renowned US expert on Afghanistan

AfghanistanGrand regional consensus helps boost chances of Afghan conflict resolution: A renowned...

By Hamid Khan Wazir

ISLAMABAD: The continued internal instability in embattled Afghanistan is likely to remain a challenge in the medium to long run; however, the good news, is that despite their competing interests, almost all regional powers appear to be committed more than ever to promoting US-led Afghan peace and reconciliation efforts, said Professor Barnett Rubin at a round-table held at the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) in Islamabad on Tuesday.

   

Professor Barnett Rubin, a veteran on Afghan affairs and author of multiple books, also underlined that almost everybody seems fed up with the continued Afghan instability and so are most of Afghans themselves, and that should be a cause for extremely cautious optimism.

“There are clearly much more economic incentives than in the past decades for these countries to cooperate to jointly pursue peace in Afghanistan,” argued Rubin, underlining that these incentives essentially rule out any possible vacuum even if the US withdrew from Afghanistan (lock stock and barrel).Grand regional consensus helps boost chances of Afghan conflict resolution: A renowned US expert on Afghanistan

All indications, including the Taliban opposition to any residual US forces as a precondition to peace, suggest that the US does want to withdraw all its troops from the country, said the renowned US expert on Afghanistan.

A small residual US force in Afghanistan may be a necessity as a “stabilisation force”, though, he noted. But this should at best take place in consultation with all key stakeholders for legitimacy and greater acceptance, Rubin argued.Grand regional consensus helps boost chances of Afghan conflict resolution: A renowned US expert on Afghanistan

Professor Rubin, who has been campaigning across the region – including trips to Beijing, Central Asia – for a greater multi-lateral synergy of thought and action on Afghanistan, hopes to hear some positive news on the peace deal between the Taliban and the USA, after what he called the great hard work by Zalmay Khalilzad, President Trump’s envoy on Afghan reconciliation.

“Never before did I come across such a grand regional commitment and consensus to conflict resolution in Afghanistan,” he added.

The American professor credited Khalilzad with managing to create the space for this consensus through his peace diplomacy, saying even Russia is supporting his  dialogue process with the Taliban to negotiate an end to America’s longest war.

Barnett Rubin also acknowledged that Pakistan’s pulse on Afghanistan had positively changed because of the big support that it is now getting from its long-time ally China.

Mati
Mati
Mati-Ullah is the Online Editor For DND. He is the real man to handle the team around the Country and get news from them and provide to you instantly.

Must read

Recent News

Every possible step being taken for increasing IT exports & FDI: Shaza Fatima

0
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: A high-level delegation of Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) led by its Chairman Muhammad Zohaib Khan called on the Minister of State...

AUD to INR: Australian Dollar to Indian Rupee Today – 28 March 2024

0
The Australian Dollar (AUD) was trading at 54.37 as per the Indian Rupee (INR) on Thursday.Currently, Indians are now the second-largest migrant group in...

USD to PKR: USD Dollar Rate in Pakistan Today – 28 March 2024

0
The US Dollar (USD) was being bought and sold at Rs 278.4 and Rs 281.15 in the Open Market against the Pakistani Rupee (PKR)...

Gold Price in Pakistan Today – 28 March 2024

0
On Thursday (March 28, 2024), the gold rate for one tola of 24-karat in Karachi, Pakistan, is Rs 227,700.000.It's important to note that gold...

The letter of six judges of IHC is nothing but an attempt to make...

0
Islamabad, Pakistan: Six respected judges of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) have written a worrying letter to the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) and the...
Advertisement