After the Taliban refused to extend the date for the withdrawal of foreign citizens from Afghanistan, President Joe Biden decided to abandon to their fate the vast majority of the Afghans who had worked for US agencies and had been promised admission to the USA. The USA was also expected to airlift citizens from European countries. Thousands of Afghans who were afraid of reprisals by the Taliban or were inspired by the American dream thronged the Kabul airport day after day but were not admitted to departure lounge. This generated a feeling of betrayal not only among some of the Afghans but also in Europe where officials reacted with a mix of disbelief and a sense of being let down.
Some of the G7 leaders were reportedly frustrated over President Joe Biden’s failure to get the deadline extended. These countries are now left only with measures like freezing the $9.5 billion assets of the Afghan government, getting halted the World Bank aid and stoppage of IMF funds to Afghanistan. The problem with the West is that it cannot afford to let the Taliban government fail, as this would lead to lawlessness in the country with repercussions in the region and beyond.
The Taliban maintain that they want to stop the exodus of doctors, engineers, teachers and IT experts from the country to avoid a brain drain. While the argument makes sense, few professionals would like to live in the type of repressive system the Taliban had enforced during their earlier rule. Unless they are convinced that this time there would be no regimentation characterizing totalitarian systems, they may not succeed in stopping the mass migration of trained manpower.
The situation provides an opportunity for cooperation between China, EU and the Gulf Sheikhdoms to help Afghanistan emerge as a stable country. A peaceful Afghanistan would promote stability and development in the region. For Pakistan the situation offers both challenges and benefits. There is a dispute left by history over the border between the two countries. Instead of jumping the gun contentious issues should be resolved with patience. Pakistani officials need to learn to treat the Afghans as equals. Instead of a muscular approach, what is required is a projection of a soft image. Once this is done there are enough opportunities for mutual trade and investment between the two countries.
