US think-tank lauds Ghani’s bold approach to peace

WADHINGTON (Pajhwok): Praising President Ashraf Ghani for not being risk-averse in bringing peace to his country, a top American think-tank on Wednesday called for adopting a tough approach against Pakistan, which continues to offer militants safe havens.

Overcoming decades of violence in a poor country, even with considerable outside assistance, was no easy task, the Atlantic Council said in a report authored by several eminent Americans.

The authors include David Petraeus, former CIA director; James Cunningham, former US ambassador to Afghanistan; and Hussain Haqqani, then Pakistani ambassador to the US.

Success in implementing the Trump administration’s strategy and Ghani’s vision for peace via reconciliation with the Taliban would validate the many sacrifices Afghans, Americans, and the international community had made, said the report.

The study reviews the one year of the implementation of the South Asia Strategy announced by President Trump in August 2017. The strategy seeks ending the war in Afghanistan with the cooperation of Pakistan and other regional countries.

“It will make Pakistan and the region more secure and prosperous, enable the withdrawal of foreign military forces and -- with continued counterterrorism cooperation with Kabul and improved cooperation with Pakistan -- mark a significant advance in the struggle against terror.

“That is an outcome deserving of continued long-term US and international engagement, and the support of those publics,” the report said.

Among other authors of the report are Bharat Gopalaswamy, from Atlantic Council, eminent Indian American expert Ashley Tellis, Congress leader Manish Tewari and Anita McBride from the American University.

“President Ashraf Ghani has made clear that he is willing to take risks for peace. His government has also demonstrated its determination to defend the country, at great cost,” the report added.

Continued US funding for the Afghan National Security and Defense Forces (ANSDF) was critical, as was the long-term international support demonstrated at the recent Brussels NATO Summit, it said. 

The Atlantic Council sough a tough approach against Pakistan. “If Pakistan will not play a positive role, the US and its partners should pursue a tough-minded strategy.

“The discussion with Pakistan must not be delayed, especially following the recent change in elected leadership and given the preponderance of influence of the military leadership in Pakistan’s regional policies, including in Afghanistan,” it said.

Pakistan, it continued, had the most important external impact on prospects for success of Trump’s South Asia policy. “It is widely recognised that the existence of safe havens in Pakistan makes it extremely difficult, if not impossible, to get the Taliban leadership to seriously negotiate.

“While Pakistan has suffered grievously from terrorism and sacrificed much in combating it internally, efforts to convince it to take needed action against the Taliban and Haqqani network within Pakistan’s borders, and to partner with the United States, have not yet born fruit,” said the report.

The think-tank said a constant review of messaging to Pakistan was needed, as was the elaboration of a multilateral campaign of pressure and incentives. For example, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey listing of Pakistan and the killing of Pakistani Taliban leader Mullah Fazlullah in Afghanistan.

“The US still seeks a healthy relationship with Pakistan, but it and its international partners, who have an important stake in this discussion, must confront Pakistani leaders with a choice about the future of their country that prevents a continuation of the status quo,” the report said.

“In response to pressure from the Trump administration, some Pakistani officials have blustered that Pakistan can rely on China and Russia. That is an illusion inimical to Pakistan’s development and economic future, a framework that falls far short of the engaged economic-development and counterterrorism relationship that the West that can offer—or withhold,” it said.

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