Modern-day Afghanistan is poor devoid of flourishing cities and under the constant imposition of harsh Taliban rule. Compared to 2000 not much has changed for the common citizen except for of course the constant bombings and threatening invasions from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
The Taliban a fundamentalist Islamic force ruling most of Afghanistan was overthrown at the beginning of the War on Terrorism yet the group is now almost as powerful as before the war began. Much of Afghanistan is under Taliban control yet again imposing its strict Muslim law that America and other Western nations so adamantly fought against in the early years of the war.
For years the military forces of the West have schemed and fought and died in an attempt to rid the world of the Taliban using technology and weaponry far superior to that of Middle Eastern forces. Despite these efforts they have on the whole been unsuccessful.
This may be because the Taliban cannot be overthrown via physical force. For years the Taliban has relied on underground recruitment and subversive tactics which means that physical force can only touch the surface of the greater problem.
For eight years the Western nations have struggled to remove the Taliban’s repressive influence in Afghanistan and for eight years they have been unsuccessful. As of the last few months though rumors have been milling around regarding the possibility of NATO peace talks with the Taliban.
Though not implicitly stated by the Western forces peace talks with the Taliban could result in United Nations recognition of the Taliban as a government. This would in essence be a step backward for democracy in Afghanistan but it would also be a step forward in restoring order. Afghanistan as of now is in disarray – between NATO forces Afghan forces and the Taliban stability in Afghanistan is nearly non-existent.
“We are not going to win this war said Brig. Gen. Mark Carleton-Smith, departing commander of the British forces in Afghanistan, in October. So much has been lost already that victory is impossible for either side. Now, peace talks seem to be the only plausible solution to this mess of a war, even if it is with the Taliban.
In an October interview with a BBC reporter, retired U.S. General Jack Keane said in response to possible negotiations with the Taliban: Once [the Taliban] realized they could not win they were willing to accommodate a lesser solution and enter the political process. I think the Taliban realistically knows the United States and NATO powers are not going away and at some point they will be willing to accommodate a much more realistic political situation for themselves.”
Allowing the Taliban to participate in peace talks then could allow for constructive results. If the UN decides to recognize the Taliban which would be a valuable concession to the force then compromises could be made that would inherently support the ideals for which America has been fighting such as education and employment of women.
Putting aside all other arguments against negotiating with the Taliban the United States must also stop and evaluate its own values and principles.
For instance Americans are always taught that humility gains respect yet we advertise our way of life as superior. Who is to say that “American” is better than “Afghan?” We may have military might and technological advantages but this does not entitle us to impose our own jihad against the Afghan way of life.
The Taliban is here to stay so the best policy to remove American militarily from the Middle East is to work with the group’s existing policies and government figures – only then can we reach a viable compromise in this political tug-of-war. Each side has given up so much already both monetarily and physically so a few more compromises could allow for a ceasefire and peace.
Time has clearly shown the futility of violence in imposing unfitting policies. Afghanistan has been the victim in a power struggle in which neither the Taliban nor the United States is willing to concede. Dignity though can be salvaged through peace talks with the Taliban. It is time to swallow our pride and do what is best for all.
After the Revolutionary War when America was developing as a nation no one came over to impose a government on us – we were allowed to develop according to our values separate from the world. We should allow Afghanistan to do the same.