Turning our backs on Afghanistan once again

article

Last week, Afghan Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah made a passionate plea for help to US policy makers during a visit to Washington, outlining in detail the threat to the government from a resurgent Taliban. He said the Taliban have reorganized, rearmed and were plotting without fear or hindrance from safe havens in Pakistan. He called for action against Taliban leaders, who are openly announcing their plans to take over Kabul once again and declare victory.

Abdullah told his US audience how the Taliban were crossing from Pakistan in large numbers, launching attacks and then disappearing into mosques and madrassas (religious schools) in Quetta, the southwestern Pakistani city which doubles as their new headquarters. They were even so bold as to hold press conferences and cabinet-style meetings.

"These people are not hiding. They are not afraid," Abdullah said at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Anyone with any doubt simply had to call these leaders on the phone and listen to their future plans. "Where are they getting their ammunition? Where are they treating their wounded?" he asked exasperatedly. He pointed the finger squarely at Pakistan, America's troubled ally and a frontline state in the "war against terrorism".

...Pakistani papers have begun detailing the emerging scene in Quetta where Taliban leaders on the "wanted" list roam freely talking of jihad. According to a recent report in Pakistani magazine Newsline, the Taliban are on a recruitment drive. Nearly 5,000 youth, including former Taliban fighters from religious seminaries in Balochistan, have gone across the border to help fight the "infidel army" - a reference to US troops.

Abdullah tried to build public opinion in Washington for a stronger US policy, but in the end all he got was a patient hearing from the Bush administration and not much more. He was publicly contradicted by official US spokesmen and even forced to temper his criticism of Pakistan. After a meeting between Abdullah and US Secretary of State Colin Powell, the State Department's deputy spokesman Adam Ereli said: "We think that Pakistan is committed to the fight against terror and is doing everything that it can to effectively fight against terror ... Systemically, institutionally, Pakistan is on board and doing what needs to be done."

...It was clear that despite Abdullah's pleas and a real danger of the government falling, the Americans are unwilling to exert pressure on Pakistan because of a belief that Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf's political position is precarious.

...Indian analysts, who view Pakistan's tactics with a cynical eye, said that Musharraf is much too useful for the Americans at this moment as Washington goes into election mode. "He has been producing al-Qaeda operatives at regular intervals and he may produce Osama bin Laden just before the US election. It will be the kind of success that will ensure Bush's reelection," an Indian analyst speculated.

So, screw you Abdullah.

Australia's with us on this one.