Indian Expert: Any Unilateral Attempt By US Would Derail Afghan Peace Process

New Delhi, Dec 23, IRNA - An Indian expert of Afghan affairs believes that any unilateral attempt by alien powers including the US would derail the Afghan government’s process to establish a lasting peace in the war-torn country. In an exclusive interview with IRNA, Dr. Shanthie Mariet D'Souza, a research fellow at the Institute of South Asian Studies (ISAS), National University of Singapore, said any unilateral attempt by the alien powers to establish peace in Afghanistan would undermine the Afghan efforts to this end. There is a need for an intra Afghan dialogue that includes all ethnic groups inside Afghanistan, she added. As for the Taliban, she noted that they will have to contest elections rather than any power sharing deal struck by outside powers without the consent of the Afghans. Rejecting the US reported negotiations with Taliban to ensure stability in Afghanistan after the NATO troops leave the country, she said, "The Taliban need to be included the Afghan peace process as part of the Afghan government’s efforts of outreach and reintegration and not as part of the US strategy there." On the positions of the different players in Afghanistan, she said many regional countries, including Russia, China and Iran are not comfortable with a long term US presence in Afghanistan though the Afghan urban elite want Americans to help them with security and financial assistance till they are able to stand on their own feet but the Afghans in the rural areas are caught between the international forces and the Taliban and they do not see much progress or hope for change, thus, reinforcing the anti-American sentiments among them. To a question on the ground reality in Afghanistan, she said, "Afghanistan is at a crucial juncture in the transition process. It is a mixed scenario of progress and challenges that remain to be addressed. It is striving to preserve the reversal of gains of the last decade and at the same time looking for continued assistance in building institutions for peace and stability in the transformational decade (2014-24). The Afghans are ready to take lead in many crucial areas but with the continued international support." Dr. D'Souza who has visited Afghanistan for many times to understand the existing realities there, termed the situation in Afghanistan as tragic stressing that Afghan tragedy lies in the fact that its internal contradictions get caught in the external power agenda. On the possible ways to resolve the Afghan crisis, she said the only possible way to end the Afghan crisis is to ensure a constructive economic cooperation including trade, transit, investment and connectivity among the regional countries. This will build Afghanistan's capacity and would help the country generate revenue. Terming India and Iran as two natural allies in Afghanistan, the South Asian expert said, "India and Iran are two historical and civilizational allies. They both have common interests in bringing about peace and stability to Afghanistan. The Zaranj- Delaram road and its connectivity with the Chabahar port would be one area of collaboration that has provided landlocked Afghanistan alternate access to the sea. India has provided more than US 2b for development and reconstruction activities." On the need for bringing the Taliban into the mainstream politics to resolve the Afghan crisis, she said all groups including the Taliban need to be included in an intra Afghan dialog and peace process. But, she added, for that to happen the sponsors of the Taliban will have to let go of their strategic assets in Afghanistan./end