TIMES, THEY ARE A-CHANGING : RUSSIA THROWS ITS SUPPORT KARZAI'S WAY

 

Memories of the Afghan-Russian war of the 1980s should be a clear indication that Afghanistan would never allow Russia to have any dealings with the country or its politicians.

But these days, the Russian are grasping at the few geopolitical strategic straws that are left.  And in Karzai, a man who has been described by many as a flag that moves even without wind, it might have found its man. 

With the Taliban ready to become role players again, and the US increasingly wishing to rid itself of Karzai's influence, the beleaguered premier, who has been under suspicion of rampant graft and some say even opium addiction, could welcome the help of even one of Afghanistan's worse enemies.

Karzai has already refused to join peace talks with the Taliban and the US in Doha, Qatar, sensing that his power and influence are not only challenged but ignored.  

So Russia has stepped into, at least in terms of voicing its support, a peace process that would exclude the United States, instead of the trilateral meeting between the Taliban, the US, and Karzai that the US is seeking.

Russia for its part has also imposed some conditions.  It wants the peace talks in Doha, now suspended until the parties agree to meet, to be between the Taliban and Afghanistan, and it wants the Taliban to cut ties with Al Qaeda.  It also asks that the Taliban abide and surrender to the Afghanistan constitution.

The Taliban however, might have different plans.  First of all it had already placed a flag at its headquarters which read 'the Islamic Emirates of Afghanistan'.  That flag was ordered down and the Taliban complied.  But it signifies already a refusal to honor the constitution, under which, unequivocally, Afghanistan is an Islamic Republic. 

The Taliban also said that they would wish to engage with the Afghan government 'only if necessary', which alone signifies a will to establish a parallel government entity, itself sovereign from the Afghanistan government. 

However, the Taliban seems to be quite eager to meet with the United States.  They have even offered to free a US soldier in their captivity for 4 long years, in exchange for five of their top lieutenants.  The five Taliban senior 'officers' are currently held at Guantanamo.

Source : the HIndu 6.20.13