CURRENT AFFAIRS
PROTECTIONISM
AN IRONIC THEORY OF GEO POLITICS
One of the noble ideas the globe had seen till
date was Woodrow Wilson's League of Nations
in 1918. But this novel idea did not have noble
ending, there are multiple reasons why it
couldn't.
One of them being United States of America
themselves abstaining from participating in it, as the
American Congress felt that being a part of League of
Nations would unnecessarily drag them into the
European conflicts. This was the first instance of
protectionism showcased by the USA after they
became a major economic power and the result was
World War II.
Today 100 years later from the formation of League of
Nations we have United Nations, which is a way more
dynamic body with global participation but even though
UN has failed in maintaining absolute world peace. On
a desperate attempt of trying to put things into
perspective one realises the US's withdrawal from
Afghanistan with a deal with Taliban is similar to US
not being a part of League of Nations.
Back in 1913 Japan invaded the Manchurian Province
of China. The League of Nations couldn't do anything
and the Japanese walked out of League of Nations and
this was due to the power vacuum within the League of
Nations. And similar is going to be in Afghanistan with
the withdrawal of USA and NATO forces and the
acquittal of 5000 Taliban prisoners.
Afghanistan is yet to see the 3rd edition of 'The Great
Game.' Whatever be the result of the 'Great Game' in
Afghanistan be, the economic slow down, the world
wide spread of Corona Virus, the volume war between
Saudi Arabia - Russia is going to play a catalytic
role in it.
THE USA - TALIBAN DEAL:
The US agreed to reduce its troops from about 12,000
to 8,000 within 135 days of signing the agreement.
Under the agreement, the militants have agreed to
refrain from attacks as well as not allowing Al-Qaeda or
any other extremist group to operate in the areas they
control.
THE GHANI - ABDULLA CONFLICT:
The agreement also proposes an intra-Afghan dialogue
with the government in Kabul and the release of 5,000
Taliban members from prison - although that part of the
deal remains in contention.
The Taliban has so far refused to speak to the
Western-backed Afghan government, saying it is a
"puppet regime." The intra-Afghan talks are to begin on
March 10, but no specific details have been given.
GAINS FOR PAKISTAN:
All these developments should be seen as a win in
Islamabad, for it offers Pakistan everything that the
country could have hoped from its Afghan policy.
Pakistan's link with the Taliban and the Haqqani's has
swung the tide in their favour as the ongoing
negotiation phase that Islamabad completely approves.
This also offers the country an opportunity to isolate its
state and non-state detractors in Afghanistan.
Pakistan and the Taliban have everything to gain by
protecting the first phase of the peace deal and that is
also something which Islamabad may have conveyed
to the Taliban. The understanding between the Taliban
and Pakistan has to be that the deal's collapse should
not come from the Taliban; rather, the responsibility of
such an outcome has to rest with Afghanistan's political
leadership.
India MFA S.Jaishankar on the situation: "(The
agreement) has been talked about for so long, it is
almost like finally seeing Pakeezah after 17 trailers,"
Mr. Jaishankar said, referring to the 1972 Hindi film,
which took 15 years to complete.
"How it plays out, only time will tell... This is not the
Afghanistan of 2001. To the United States and the
West, our message is that the achievements of the last
18 years should be protected and not jeopardised."
"How cohesive are the various players... does the
Taliban join the democratic set up, or will the
democratic have to adjust to the Taliban... We are all
watching this space," the Minister said. Also the Indian
government congratulated President Ghani for winning
the current elections and also are in good ties with the
government since years.
article by Advait Nambiar
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