The course of this conflict is not known, yet its outcome is certain. Freedom and fear, justice and cruelty, have always been at war’ was what George W. Bush committed alongside other promises on 20 September, 2001 in his address to the Joint Session of Congress. Thus was launched the Enduring Freedom mission which was pronounced as not ‘just America’s fight…This is the world’s fight. This is civilization’s fight. This is the fight of all who believe in progress and pluralism, tolerance and freedom’. And here is the outcome of this conflict: Afghanistan is blessed with two Presidents swearing in the same time while the country is ripped apart in utterly miserable political dissent more than ever before, simultaneously Taliban controlling more than half of the mainland of Afghanistan and Trump is found whistle blowing Taliban re-emergence and their potential ability in seizing the power once US withdrawal happens. The region is more volatile, void of the principles of pluralism, freedom, justice, tolerance, progress and democracy than it was in the pre 9/11 years. Do the Americans keep their words? Well, perhaps the common Americans cannot be doubted for that but the American Presidents never keep their words and that is for sure.
Given the erratically deceitful American way of managing global affairs, one suspects USA is not on an exit from Afghanistan-not at least that easily. The other version could be that America has already made an exit of Enduring Freedom mission by striking a peace deal with its erstwhile enemies of its civilization and has completely deserted its friends in Afghanistan and the Afghan people for whose recourse it dawned from the heavens. ‘With every atrocity, they hope that America grows fearful, retreating from the world and forsaking our friends. They stand against us, because we stand in their way’ and whatever the USA has not done is not standing in their way, and what it has absolutely done is that it has forsaken the friends for good, the Afghan people.
Doha Peace Agreement brought down Taliban as prospective US friends and allies who were the most feared and loathed factor just yesterday and every fellow American picked up Taliban as a regime which was as G. W. Bush said, ‘committing murder’ but suddenly it took USA 18 years of bloody war in recognizing Taliban turning out to be USA’s friends where the superpower of the world is now found kneeling before them requesting seizure of violence against US led allied forces in Afghanistan. This has a significant value for Taliban too as they have emerged a recognized power in the world with the guts to challenge the undisputed super power. It seems the mission Enduring Freedom has met total failure as it discovered that the ‘The leadership of al Qaeda has great influence in Afghanistan and supports the Taliban regime in controlling most of that country’ and after 18 years of Enduring Freedom, it is the same Taliban controlling most of the country and the captain of the Mission is openly announcing his apprehensions that Taliban has the potential to acquire back Afghanistan if USA exists.
Do US want to change the dynamics of war in Afghanistan to fuel it spread to the whole region in countering the triplets of Russia, Iran and China? There is nothing in sight of American exit strategy. One just doubts that America would leave this region with such an ease after investing in the region so much through death and destruction. America is enlisting new proxies in the region to further increase instability by extending the war within Afghanistan giving it both the colors, tribal and religious. Should that happen, America would want other countries to settle their scores in this war whether they want it or they dislike lit, they would never help being not part of it. The Iranian extension is the most important one in this behalf where America would fuel the sectarian divides. In doing so, the war would not remain limited to few countries but would spread over a good chunk of land including Central Asia, South Asia and Middle East. Afghanistan is the new Syria America is sharply engineering.
The Enduring Freedom Doctrine is very vivid as it states, ‘Our war on terror…will not end until every terrorist group of global reach has been found, stopped and defeated’ and one has just to wait and see who could the next terrorist be? It could be the stubborn Iran not yielding to the American designs of oppression. It could be the rising China whose economic might is threatening the American interests in the region and worldwide. It could be the brave Russia who is keeping a watch on the American global disordering. It could be anyone or and anything which is against the American interests. So long as one would keep the American way of life and American interests upholding, he would be exonerated of the charges of Terrorism and everyone must subscribe to the truth that , ‘Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists. From this day forward, any nation that continues to harbor or support terrorism will be regarded by the United States as a hostile regime’. Anything which is against the American political and economic interests is henceforth Terrorism!