“We have won the war and America has lost,” said a Taliban military leader to the BBC after the US president Joe Biden announced that the 2500 US forces remaining in Afghanistan would be coming home by the 20th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks that led to the US invasion in 2001. “We are ready for anything. We are totally prepared for peace, and we are fully prepared for jihad,” Taliban commander Haji Hikmat is quoted to have said by the channel.
Haji’s words are certain to resonate across the world. No matter, which way you slice the outcome of the war in Afghanistan, the truth is the US has miserably failed to achieve the objectives of its military campaign and met the fate of its predecessor in the country, the USSR.
Though the US is currently engaged in a peace process with the Taliban that is geared to get the latter to share political power in the country, it has now become increasingly uncertain that this will happen. War in all likelihood will grind on. Having been the victors – both perceived and the real – of the war, the Taliban is unlikely to settle for less than complete control of the country. Whether this happens or not is still in the realm of speculation. Yes, the US will certainly try and prevent an outright Taliban takeover or delay it as long as possible, but it looks unlikely that after the exit, the US will be able to steer the situation in Kabul in a way that always protects its interests. The militia has already said in a statement it would not participate in any conference about Afghanistan’s future until all “foreign forces” have departed – albeit it has now decided to attend the US-backed ten-day summit in Turkey.
THE SOVIET WITHDRAWAL
This story is from the April 18, 2021 edition of Kashmir Life.
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This story is from the April 18, 2021 edition of Kashmir Life.
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Before The Kabul Retreat
Described as the ‘Graveyard of Empires’, Afghanistan was always termed to be at peace when it was at war. But the land-locked desert country that was always in turmoil and one of the worst targets of the Great Game suffered immensely throughout, especially in the last 40 years, Masood Hussain writes
FINGERS CROSSED
Almost everybody in academia and politics that Khalid Bashir Gura spoke to, the response over Kabul happens was simple – wait and watch
Parliamentary Committee In Srinagar
The visiting 28-member Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs have had detailed interactions with top civil administration and discussed developmental scenario and people’s welfare measures in Jammu and Kashmir. It is on a 4-day visit. Congress leader and MP Anand Sharma is heading the committee.
MUSIC IN MUD HOUSE
Deep into north Kashmir, Faheem Mir meet a small community that sings and lives on folk music but is facing a tense situation in the last few years
THE KABUL SPILLOVER?
Security experts are divided over the possible impact of the Kabul situation on Kashmir. But the dramatic Taliban triumph has altered the region’s geopolitics, for the time being, writes Riyaz Wani
Durga Bhawan At Katra
To enhancing facilities for the convenience of the Vaishno Devi pilgrims, Lt Governor Manoj Sinha laid the foundation for the Durga Bhawan, a high utility pilgrim-centric facility worth Rs 24.4 crore. The facility will accommodate 4000 pilgrims.
Women Empowerment
In the first, 480 talented girls from Jammu and Kashmir were included in the degree and diploma courses of the Pragati Scholarship. Jammu and Kashmir has also got nine scholarships under the Saksham Scheme for Persons with Disabilities.
‘SOME HISTORIANS BELIEVE THAT AFGHANISTAN CONFLICT IS THE OUTCOME OF INDIA AND PAKISTAN KASHMIR STAND-OFF'
Foreign policy expert and editor of HardNews magazine, Sanjay Kapoor believes that Taliban 2.0 has more legitimacy unlike in the past as it had signed a deal with the US and negotiated with other countries of the region, but the final verdict can be passed only after it manages ticklish issues involving half of its population, the women
Boredom Is Creative?
Getting bored is not as boring as it gets, writes Azra Hussain
LG In Bangus
Lt Governor, Manoj Sinha inaugurated the Bungus Awaam Mela amidst grand arrangements for village games, exhilarating local performances, and other activities to celebrate the 75th year of Independence.
