US’s last chance in Afghanistan: reconciliation with the Pashtuns

Amidst such gloomy prognoses, there is still one chance left for a lasting peace in Afghanistan if the West has the will for a decisive paradigm shift in its Afghan strategy. A genuine reconciliation with the Pashtuns is possible with a face-to-face talk with the Taliban. The age-old tribal code of the Afghans, known to the Western anthropologists, as nanawaty and Pashtunwali has changed blood enemies into friends for centuries. A genuine reconciliation between the Pashtuns and the West is possible if both sides are genuinely keen and honest. There is an old saying that “With friendship, a Pashtun would gladly go with you to hell, but you can’t take him to paradise by force”. The US can also enjoy such a fruitful and lasting friendship with the Pashtuns and by extension with all Afghans.

The Taliban on its part has to decisively break up with al-Qaida and respect international laws and human rights. With genuine help from the US, the only remaining superpower, the Taliban can deal with their mutual problem with Pakistan. In addition to Qatar's negotiations, it is of paramount importance that the US and Kabul name one province “the

Province of Peace” where both warring sides declare a ceasefire and begin confidence-building measures. A fraction of what the US is currently spending on building the Afghan National Army and Police would be enough to facilitate this historic peace arrangement in Afghanistan.

Afghans have no natural enmity with Western civilization. They are traditionally pro-Western despite this eleven-year conflict. They see Russia as a traditional enemy and it is impossible for the Taliban to get into an alliance with communist China either. Therefore a genuine peace arrangement between the West and the Pashtun could build an iron wall in Afghanistan for Western geopolitical strategy in the region as well as a prosperous future for the tortured Afghan nation.

Afghan neighbours Pakistan, Iran and Russia will do everything to jeopardise such a historical peace process between the two warring sides. By avoiding this opportunity, would slide Afghanistan into a civil war and the collapse of the US-backed regime in Kabul. The sad truth is that Western failure in Afghanistan will not end in this country. The ripple effects are going to be felt throughout the region for many decades to come. America has to decide between, George Bush’s “Enduring Freedom” and Pashtun nanawaty.