Afghanistan: Need of a Global Response Sans Military Option

By Shahzad Masood Roomi

“Let me be clear: we will be relentless in rooting out terrorism, whosoever its sponsors, external or internal. Any effort to destabilize parts of our country or to attack its territorial integrity will be responded to forcefully.”
....

"Peace and security in Afghanistan could best be achieved through a process of national reconciliation 
undertaken and led by Afghans themselves."

Analysis:

Aforementioned statements were made by Pakistan's permanent envoy to UN, Dr. Maleeha Lodhi while addressing to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). The views of Pakistani ambassador reflect the geopolitical reality that for a peaceful Pakistan a peaceful Afghanistan is necessary. 

Usually it is said that Pakistan itself has intervened in Afghanistan for the longest period of time. Though true, this historical fact needs to be examined through the lens of geopolitical realities which shaped the strategic thinking within Pakistani security establishment. Fact remains that  since the last 40 years, Pakistan has been forced to intervene in Afghanistan just to ensure its own internal and external security. This intervention was the outcome of the events triggered by external forces (first Russia and now the US) and it will continue until the presence of Extra Regional Forces in Afghanistan. 

Today, Afghanistan needs help from global community to overcome the mammoth challenges BUT without any military intervention. This help must be political, financial and diplomatic and Afghans must be given a chance to workout a political solution for themselves and this can only happen after the expulsion of US/NATO military from there. 14 years of senseless war in Afghanistan has failed to make Afghanistan a secure place for world. As Pakistan has revisited its Afghan policy and has departed from its 1980's Afghan policy, it is time for the world community and dominant players in it to revisit their approaches towards Afghan situation. Pakistan has learned the harsh lesson that only a stable Afghanistan with native political model can ensure the security of Pakistan's western front and internal axis. 

Pakistan and Afghanistan are increasing their mutual cooperation in intelligence sharing, as mentioned by Dr. Lodhi as well in her speech, but the fact remains that the Afghan question is not just a bilateral one, its is a global question demanding global response where solid results would become visible only after a global realization that Afghanistan is a sovereign state not just a geostrategic battlefront!

Against this backdrop, the above mentioned statement of Ambassador Lodhi indicates in right direction but there is a lot more to be done by Pakistani foreign office and diplomats in other parts of the world. Understandably Pakistan is shaping its foreign policy towards achieving that goal but considering the prevailing bitter geopolitical realities it will be only prudent to think that this is going to be a harsh slog for Pakistan but this is a must to do task for the sake of our own security and prosperity and failure is not an option here!