HAS BIDEN MADE TALIBAN, AND NOT AMERICA, GREAT AGAIN?

With the Taliban getting ready to form their government in Afghanistan, shortly before the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attack in the United States, the public opinion in America has turned heavily against the incumbent President. The war veterans have questioned the government’s clumsy withdrawal that has endangered the lives of lakhs of people and has put the Taliban, a terror outfit, in the seat of power in Kabul. The general impression going around is that Joe Biden has made the Taliban, and not America, great again.

The US presidential elections always have witnessed various candidates in the fray swearing that it was time to make America great again, thereby suggesting that its amplified status in the world had been diminished and thus needed to be boosted. Now with the Taliban in control, the average citizen of that country may not be able to appreciate the strategic ideas behind the pullout which has empowered the organisation that has links with several other outlawed outfits. As pointed out in earlier pieces, the American establishment is not naïve and though the perception may be against it at the moment, it may have a well-conceived plan for the region keeping in mind the country’s interests. The appearance of making the Taliban great may just be a mere illusion as once the blueprint unfolds, the real objectives of the US plans would come out. It is now being pointed out that through technology, many of the sophisticated weapon systems and aircraft that have been left behind may not be ever functional again. The helicopters for instance may not be able to fly since their computers may have been jammed thereby disabling their functions.

Whether this is true or not, only experts and the NATO allies of the United States would be able to tell. Overall, what has happened in Afghanistan has in the eyes of the world, affected the superpower status of the United States. However, it would be foolish to entirely believe in that flawed thesis since that country continues to be the mightiest in terms of military and economic quotients. The Americans had a hand in the creation of the Taliban several decades ago and surely must be having enough moles in that organisation who may continue to serve their interests. So far as India is concerned, a strong and stable government in Kabul headed by the Islamists is not what we should strive for. On the face of it, elements within the Taliban may appear to have the backing of the Chinese. However, the Chinese are smart people and would not invest heavily in that country, if there is instability.

Afghanistan is very rich in minerals and other raw natural resources. The present regime there has been thriving on narcotics and gun running to sustain themselves. If there is a stable government there, the Chinese may try to exploit the mineral wealth by providing technology to the Taliban to do modern mining using the latest techniques. Yes, there is no doubt that New Delhi must engage with the new regime, but not allow them to be overbearing in the region. There are enough strategic experts in the country who can advise the government on this. One thing that should be always kept in mind is that America works only in its own interests and thus it would be a grave folly to think that it would ever make the Taliban great again, even if it appears like that at this moment.