The Government has once again reiterated its stubbornness continuing the ruining path. In a recent meeting with some US Senators, President Karzai prioritized the demands of end of night-raids and Afghan control of prisons as key conditions for the strategic partnership agreement with the US. On Sunday, a US congressional delegation led by Senator John McCain met President Karzai and discussed on issues of security particularly the impending deadlock in discussion about the strategic pact with the US regarding their military presence beyond 2014.
Senator McCain rightly said that the night raids cannot be stopped unless the Afghan National Security Forces gain all capabilities to carry them out. He emphasized on the importance of finalization of this partnership agreement before May, when America's NATO allies will have a major meeting in Chicago. Senator Lindsey Graham said giving control of the detention centers to Afghans will put cause security risks.
The delegation also expressed doubts about any realistic and acceptable breakthrough in the talks with the Taliban towards a political settlement and reconciliation in Afghanistan. It is a positive message that some influential US senators voice our worries about the absence of a Plan B, as it is very unlikely that there will be a happy ending to the enthusiastic and over-rated mantra of talks with the Taliban for a political settlement.
We admire the leadership of Senator McCain who raised concerns about the release of notorious Taliban war criminals currently in Guantanamo Bay. The Obama Administration wants to release them as part of the initial so-called confidence-building measure for the Taliban talks. But who guarantees the Taliban are not playing a wait-and-see tactic until the bulk of US troops withdraw from Afghanistan and they continue terror.
The International human rights organizations are ignoring this deal-making of the Obama Administration to release war-criminals wanted by the UN.
On the issue of control of prisons where high-profile notorious insurgent commanders are held, President Karzai has been making unrealistic demands which are more political than practical. Recently he issued an order that the Bagram Prison be transferred to Afghan control. It is impossible to transition such a huge detention center with high-risk insurgents to our incapable and vulnerable security forces.
President Karzai knows that he will not be able to stay in Kabul for a single day once all the US troops withdraw Afghanistan. The entire setup will collapse and there will be chaos. Then why he manipulates and muddies the waters with demands using for his personal political bargaining at the cost of an uncertainty of future stability in Afghanistan?
We all know that if the US withdraws completely, there will be chaos soon. With the small number of troops that the Obama Administration is planning to keep in Afghanistan beyond 2014, they will largely depend on special operations with night raids by Special Forces.
If the US military role reduces to special operations, there are many hurdles caused by President Karzai himself namely his opposition to the night raids, which are significant part of special operations. We cannot blame the Obama Administration gambling in Afghanistan for purposes of domestic politics in the US.
President Karzai's stubbornness linking the approval of a Strategic Partnership Agreement with the US on end of night raids and transfer of the control of detention centers has caused a deadlock on talks about the strategic partnership agreement. It will ensure commitment from Washington beyond 2014 and President Karzai should make sure to finalize it as soon as possible before the NATO summit in Chicago.