The recent Loya Jirga held in Kabul city where several hundred highly influential people participated and ultimately endorsed both Agendas of the assembly - starting negotiation once again with Taliban-led militants and signing of Strategic cooperation contract with the US, which necessarily includes establishment of permanent military bases too.
Perhaps, the most controversial part of upcoming Strategic Cooperation Contract is also US military bases. Though many view the cooperation, after 2014, necessary to provide the country a shield against possible interference of neighboring countries trying to fill political power vacuum; meanwhile, there are oppositions, viewing it impotent to bring about political stability and stoppage of security crisis.
On Friday, A number of religious scholars and tribal elders opposed the presence of foreign forces in Afghanistan, saying it had no impact on the security situation. Addressing a meeting, attended by scholars and elders, MP Allah Gul Mujahid said he had shown his aversion to foreign troops' presence at the traditional Loya Jirga.
His suggestion for bringing stability was strengthening and equipping of Afghan security forces, arguing that even with the presence of more than 100,000 foreign troops, peace had not been restored. This is not only his argument.
The opposition generally stick to the same reality that there are more than hundred thousand of foreign security forces in the country, yet peace and stability have not be restored; can few thousand of American forces after 2014, achieve what they could not achieve during past years?
With respect to all, there is something to be noticed. It is right that the peace and stability are not restored entirely, but there are grand achievements that blinds also can feel in their lives. With the support of international community, the per capita income has increased largely and millions of Afghan people have better condition in comparison to pre-2001 periods.
Same is the case in other spheres, like women participation, freedom, and freedom of expression and so on.
Every Afghan wants to see Afghanistan economically prosperous and politically independent and solve its problems independently. Who does not like that?
What makes many worried is the absence of a strong ally. It is possible that the well-equipped forces turn against one another and the country falls once again to claw of communal war. What is the guarantee that a civil war will not be inflamed if U.S. and other international allies withdraw completely?
Nothing at all! But with the US military bases it would not occur. Moreover, no regional power would be able to play the game as they used to.