Situation demands steps to counter Taliban offensive in Afghanistan

ISLAMABAD: The fast deteriorating security conditions in Afghanistan calls for immediate steps including initiation of meaningful and result-oriented dialogue between Kabul and the Afghan Taliban.
President Dr. Ashraf Ghani’s policy of reconciliation and dialogue with the Taliban using Pakistan’s influence has not paid dividends so far, which is a source of concern both for Washington and Islamabad. Recent US air strikes in selected areas of militant concentrations and the foes of Ghani regime is seen in the light of this disturbing situation, which former ISI chief Lt. Gen. Rtd Hameed Gul has described as the last ditch efforts to save the day for the Ghani regime.
A major concern for the Afghan regime, Gen. Gul said, was the lack of sufficient weapons to combat the well equipped Taliban and non-fulfillment of the promised financial package of over 4 billion US dollars.
Talking to The News Gen. Hameed Gul stated that Pakistan must realise that its blind support for Kabul against the Afghan Taliban would only strengthen Daish influence in the country, as only Taliban were capable to foiling its onslaught.
He said it should be kept in mind that Ashraf Ghani has no political support base since he is a technocrat while other political figures in the country enjoy far more political clout on the basis of ethnic or religious background.
Hence taking on Taliban only in support of Ghani might please the US but it will not help in any way bring peace to Afghanistan. He said Taliban right now were not only disgruntled due to Pakistan’s changed policy towards them they were also angry with Ashraf Ghani who had signed the controversial accord with US allowing substantial number of American troops in the country.
He said not only that Taliban have made unprecedented gains in their Spring offensive they have also penetrated various tiers of the regime through their loyal associates who have caused colossal losses to the regime.
Pakistan is under pressure to fulfill its pledge to bring Taliban to the negotiations while the Afghan coalition government is under pressure to restore peace by foiling the most effective Taliban Spring offensive on the one hand and to bring political stability to the country by brining estranged Taliban into the government fold. The Taliban so far have not accepted any offer to join the Afghan coalition demand complete withdrawal of foreign troops from the country before such an arrangement could take place.
So far Islamabad’s efforts to make Taliban reach a political settlement with the Kabul regime have met no success, though a group of Taliban had held ‘secret’ talks with the Ghani government in Urumchi in China. The Taliban’s mainstream group led by Mullah Umar has expressed its regrets over the development. Eearlier, the Taliban had taken serious note of closer relations between Kabul and Islamabad which prompted PM Nawaz Sharif during his visit to the Afghan capital to announce that the enemy of Afghanistan would be treated as the enemy of Pakistan.