THE GIST of Editorial for UPSC Exams : 02 March 2020 (On U.S.-Taliban agreement (The Hindu))

On U.S.-Taliban agreement (The Hindu)

Mains Paper 3: Defense and Security
Prelims level: U.S.-Taliban agreement
Mains level: Highlights the U.S.-Taliban agreement

Context:

• The deal signed between the U.S. and the Taliban in Doha sets the stage for America to wind down the longest war in its history.
• It went into Afghanistan in October 2001, a few weeks after the 9/11 terror attacks, with the goals of defeating terrorists and rebuilding and stabilising the central Asian country.

Highlights of the damages and causalities between U.S.-Taliban tussles:

• Almost 19 years later, the U.S. seeks to exit Afghanistan with assurances from the Taliban that the insurgents will not allow Afghan soil to be used by transnational terrorist groups such as al-Qaeda and that they would engage the Kabul government directly to find a lasting solution to the civil war. America’s desperation is understandable. The Afghan war is estimated to have cost $2-trillion, with more than 3,500 American and coalition soldiers killed.
• Afghanistan lost hundreds of thousands of people, both civilians and soldiers.
• After ................................

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Reasons behind Afghan government exclusion:

• The fundamental issue with the U.S.’s Taliban engagement is that it deliberately excluded the Afghan government because the insurgents do not see the government as legitimate rulers.
• By giving in to the Taliban’s demand, the U.S. has practically called into question the legitimacy of the government it backs.
• The U.S. has made several concessions to the Taliban in the agreement. The Taliban was not pressed enough to declare a ceasefire.
• Both sides settled for a seven-day “reduction of violence” period before signing the deal.
• The U.S., with some 14,000 troops in Afghanistan, has committed to pull them out in a phased manner in return for the Taliban’s assurances that it would sever ties with other terrorist groups and start talks with the Kabul government.

Challenges ahead:

• But the Taliban, whose rule is known for strict religious laws, banishing women from public life, shutting down schools and unleashing systemic discrimination on religious and ethnic minorities, has not made any promises on whether it would respect civil liberties or accept the Afghan Constitution.
• The Taliban got what it wanted — the withdrawal of foreign troops — without making any major concession.
• The U.S. withdrawal will invariably weaken the Kabul government, altering the balance of power both on the battlefield and at the negotiating table.

Conclusion:

• A weakened government will have to talk with a resurgent Taliban.
• The U.S., in a desperate bid to exit the Afghan war, has practically abandoned the Kabul government and millions of Afghans who do not support the Taliban’s violent, tribal Islamism, to the mercy of insurgents.

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Prelims Questions:

Q1. With reference to the announcements made during the recent visit by USA President Donald Trump to India, consider the following statements:
1. India will purchase 24 multi-role MH-60 Romeo helicopters, through the Foreign Military Sale government-to-government route, and six Apache AH 64E Apache helicopters for the Army.
2. US International Development Finance Corporation will be establishing a permanent presence in India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

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Mains Questions:
Q1. Describe the highlights of the U.S. and Taliban deal. How the deal could impact the relationship between India and Afghanistan?