After the fall of Kabul in 1997, when the Taliban announced the establishment of the “Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan”, the arrangement was recognized by Pakistan as well as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates as a formal government. At the United Nations, however, Afghanistan was represented by a government led by Burhanuddin Rabbani. Later it became known to us as the “Northern Alliance”. It also had the support of India, Iran and Russia.
Pakistan kept urging the United States and Europe to recognize the Taliban’s arrangement and escalate diplomatic and economic ties with them. Europe did not heed the request. The United States, however, lured one of its oil companies to work with the Taliban regime. A Taliban delegation also visited their US headquarters. 9/11, however, turned everything upside down.
The Taliban have now returned to Kabul victorious. No provisional or permanent government has been announced by them as yet. Only governors and guardians of the provinces and various ministries have been appointed. Many countries, including Pakistan, are expressing a desire for the Taliban to negotiate a government that appears to be a full-fledged representative of Afghanistan. The Taliban, however, are being recognized by these countries as the ultimate power.
The Taliban’s return to Kabul was swift and more surprising, mainly due to the Doha talks. Doha is located in Qatar. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates do not consider it an ally. Probably a factor as to why Ashraf Ghani chose to flee Afghanistan and become a refugee in the United Arab Emirates. Many of Afghanistan’s leading figures, including the Taliban’s higher leadership, own valuable properties in the UAE. The UAE, however, does not seem to be interested in the current situation in Afghanistan. Saudi Arabia’s attitude is also indifferent.
I strongly wish that the observers, writers and analysts who keep us informed about world affairs, could convince the less educated people like me that despite being long-time benefactors of the Taliban, not only the Middle East but also these two most important Muslim nations. Why are countries such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates keeping a mysterious silence about the Taliban’s victorious return to Kabul? However, the question still stands without an answer.
Qatar’s attitude is also noteworthy. Thousands of Afghans gathered inside and outside Kabul airport were being flown to the country on American planes. As their numbers grew, Qatar told the United States in no uncertain terms that it could not allow any Afghan citizen to relocate, albeit temporarily. Following Qatar’s decision, the United States had to suspend the flight of asylum seekers from Afghanistan for several hours. They are now being taken to countries around the world where US military bases are located. The intention is to find a way to eventually resettle the beleaguered Afghans in the United States.
The Biden administration has repeatedly expressed its intention to do so simply because thousands of Afghans have gathered around Kabul airport, demanding their evacuation. Crowds of restless Afghans seeking refuge are screaming for international help. The Biden administration is therefore compelled to fabricate consolation stories. The “star” reporters of international media outlets have now left Afghanistan. A large number of local reporters who have been reporting for them for decades are also seeking asylum. The United States has no more control of Kabul Airport. More than 6,000 US troops were there till 31st Aug to make evacuation operations effective.
Since the Taliban, had openly warned the United States that they will not tolerate the presence of US troops in Afghanistan for a single day after August 31. The United States even called the meeting of her allies of G-7 block. It was hoped that the organization would try to persuade the Taliban to extend the US military presence in Afghanistan for the sake of civilians seeking to evacuate. However, the Taliban did not agree.
The Taliban, who returned to Kabul after two decades of war, are deeply concerned about their image. Going by the media myth, it should have happened that after the Taliban entered Kabul, an impressive number of citizens would have taken to the streets to welcome them. Instead of a heroic welcome, the crowd gathered around Kabul airport, giving the impression that the Taliban’s arrival in Kabul had frightened the locals. They feel insecure. There is no hope for a stable and prosperous future in Afghanistan. The Taliban are deeply worried about their international image and the scenes around Kabul airport are presenting a sorry picture which to the Taliban is a worrying sign. As a result, they were desperate to prevent the United States from staying in Afghanistan beyond August 31.
My sad heart fears that the Biden administration was also reluctant to keep its forces in Afghanistan after August 31. As the Taliban took a hard stance, the Biden administration also offered hollow excuse that they could not provide asylum to every Afghan who has worked for the United States for the past 20 years because the Taliban refused to cooperate.
After the complete withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan on August 31, we are witnessing the mention of Afghanistan gradually disappearing from BBC and CNN. Meanwhile, the Taliban have introduced the same arrangement for the local media that our Information Minister, Mr. Fawad Chaudhry, is trying to implement very diligently in the beloved homeland. Reminding us of General Zia, the Taliban regime will first “clear” every news and article made for publication in Afghan newspapers and programs aired on electronic media. The Afghan and international media will then publish and broadcast the same “news” about Afghanistan that the Taliban would like. Thus, the so-called global conscience will begin to ignore Afghanistan in the same way that the current realities of occupied Kashmir or Palestine are being kept in the dark.
