US President Barack Obama’s decision to keep roughly 9,800 troops in Afghanistan in 2016, rather than reducing the number to 1,000 troops by the end of next year as Washington had previously planned, has come as a huge relief to the government in Kabul which has been struggling to thwart the advances of a resurgent Taliban. It’s a decision that must be widely welcomed and was taken after considering the latest realities in Afghanistan. The exit of international troops had emboldened the Taliban and weakened the Afghan forces. The insurgent group was able to capture more territory and though most of it had been recaptured by Afghan forces, the extremists are proving too tough for the government forces. Upsetting the current balance on the ground will be dangerous for the country as it would wipe out most of the work done made by the US and Nato troops in the country. This factor must have prompted Obama to change his strategy. Though the continuation of the US forces will not cause a drastic change in the situation and may not bring stability, it will at least instill confidence in Afghan troops. Secondly, the Islamic State, after making advances in Iraq, Syria, Yemen and Libya, is trying to gain entry into Afghanistan. The terrorist group already has a presence in some areas and further strengthening of the group would open another front for Afghan forces whose hands are already full.
The decision to keep the troops in Afghanistan is also, in a sense, an admission of defeat by Obama. He had painted a rosy picture about the situation in the war-torn country at the time of announding the drawdown – that Afghan forces were capable of taking charge. That argument now lies punctured. Nobody knows when Afghan forces will be able to stabilise the country despite all the training they received at the hands of US forces. Compared to that extensive tranining and the prolonged presence of foreign troops in the country, which was spent exclusively fighting the insurgents, the progress made against the Taliban could be considered modest.
President Ashraf Ghani too hasn’t succeeded much in his mission of restoring governance and defeating the insurgents. The country is still mired in corruption which has been the biggest hurdle in bringing the much-needed economic growth so crucial to fighting the Taliban. His efforts for a negotiated peace between the government and the leading factions of the Taliban too haven’t made any solid progress.
It’s unlikely that the US will keep its troops in Afghanistan forever. The onus is on Ghani to initiate measures that will bring stability. It’s not easy. He will have the support of the international community provided he takes the right steps.
US President Barack Obama’s decision to keep roughly 9,800 troops in Afghanistan in 2016, rather than reducing the number to 1,000 troops by the end of next year as Washington had previously planned, has come as a huge relief to the government in Kabul which has been struggling to thwart the advances of a resurgent Taliban. It’s a decision that must be widely welcomed and was taken after considering the latest realities in Afghanistan. The exit of international troops had emboldened the Taliban and weakened the Afghan forces. The insurgent group was able to capture more territory and though most of it had been recaptured by Afghan forces, the extremists are proving too tough for the government forces. Upsetting the current balance on the ground will be dangerous for the country as it would wipe out most of the work done made by the US and Nato troops in the country. This factor must have prompted Obama to change his strategy. Though the continuation of the US forces will not cause a drastic change in the situation and may not bring stability, it will at least instill confidence in Afghan troops. Secondly, the Islamic State, after making advances in Iraq, Syria, Yemen and Libya, is trying to gain entry into Afghanistan. The terrorist group already has a presence in some areas and further strengthening of the group would open another front for Afghan forces whose hands are already full.
The decision to keep the troops in Afghanistan is also, in a sense, an admission of defeat by Obama. He had painted a rosy picture about the situation in the war-torn country at the time of announding the drawdown – that Afghan forces were capable of taking charge. That argument now lies punctured. Nobody knows when Afghan forces will be able to stabilise the country despite all the training they received at the hands of US forces. Compared to that extensive tranining and the prolonged presence of foreign troops in the country, which was spent exclusively fighting the insurgents, the progress made against the Taliban could be considered modest.
President Ashraf Ghani too hasn’t succeeded much in his mission of restoring governance and defeating the insurgents. The country is still mired in corruption which has been the biggest hurdle in bringing the much-needed economic growth so crucial to fighting the Taliban. His efforts for a negotiated peace between the government and the leading factions of the Taliban too haven’t made any solid progress.
It’s unlikely that the US will keep its troops in Afghanistan forever. The onus is on Ghani to initiate measures that will bring stability. It’s not easy. He will have the support of the international community provided he takes the right steps.
