By: Asem Mustafa Awan
The Shanghai Cooperation Council (SCO) summit in Dushanbe has succeeded in evolving consensus on the point to rebuild and support Afghanistan in this trying and challenging time to avert the looming humanitarian crisis.
Afghanistan is surrounded by the Central Asian States which came into being after the disintegration of the former Soviet Union and Taliban who took over Afghanistan after two decades of fierce resistance against the United States and allied forces.
Afghanistan is the focal point of the world and the regional countries after the Taliban seizing control of Kabul without any resistance from the government forces, depicting their acceptance from the general public. The sudden US withdrawal from Afghanistan after causing great damage and destruction in the country raised many eyebrows. It is widely viewed that the US wants to leave unstable Afghanistan so as it remains a constant challenge for the neighboring countries sharing borders with Afghanistan, particularly Pakistan who had already paid a heavy price by siding the US against the war on terror.
In the past, when the Soviet Union left Afghanistan after facing defeat in the decade-long war, civil war erupted in the country that turned the situation from bad to worst. The US followed suit and left Afghanistan in turmoil and now the world is following wait-and-see policy rather take tangible and practical steps to deal with the influx of refugees, drugs and possible militant spillover in the neighboring countries.
Efforts are afoot, as the Taliban have given assurance to the world that their soil will not be used against any country but apprehension are there and Prime Minister Imran Khan has time and again has reminded the world to join hands to rebuild Afghanistan to avoid humanitarian crisis and economic meltdown.
The Central Asian States with the mineral resources can rightly be termed as ‘Jewel of Asia’ and have borders with Afghanistan. Afghanistan is a land-locked country but offers access to the world from two sides namely from Iran and Pakistan and to Central Asia and if peace is restored that could change the fate of the region as well as of Afghanistan.
Pakistan for long has its policy drafted around South East Asia but the new situation has made Islamabad revisit its policy approach and now Central Asia is the focus of attention. The completion of the long-delayed projects of gas and electricity can usher in a new era of progress and prosperity.
Prime Minister Imran Khan in particular is compelling the world that rebuilding Afghanistan after the American withdrawal should be an immediate priority as the new Taliban government is struggling to deal with the untold problems due to scarcity of resources.
The emergence of this bloc which offers prosperity and growth for all neighbors alike is also the center of attention for the rest of the world.
The volatile situation in Afghanistan has made the Central Asia inaccessible for Pakistan; however if peace and normalcy came to the country, it could turn Pakistan a hub of economic and trade activities.
The writer is a Special Correspondent at The Dayspring
