Trump's old deal with Taliban might open new doors in Afghanistan politics
US-Taliban relations hit dead-end after troops left Afghanistan about 3 years ago. Regional countries make progress while West stays away - but growing threats need fresh look at engagement
The possible comeback of Donald Trump to White House opens fresh talks about US-Afghan relations. His ex-envoy Zalmay Khalilzad thinks its time to fully-use the Doha deal while Mike Waltz‚ Trumps new security advisor dont agree with the old approach
The West faces four main tasks in todays Afghanistan: fighting terror groups migration control drug-trade limits and getting back their people. The most dangerous thing right now is ISKP (a terror group that showed it can hit far away from home). They planned attacks at big events like Paris Olympics and even tried to hit a Taylor Swift concert; police stopped both plots
Regional countries like China and UAE work with Taliban in a no-strings-attached way: they dont ask about human rights but get trade deals done. Last summer Abdulla Aripov from Uzbekistan went to Kabul – first big-shot visit since Taliban took over
We must start a new chapter
Even Pakistan which helped Taliban for many years cant make them change their ways. When Talibanʼs consul didnt stand for Pakistans anthem (because it had music) it made more people angry than actual terror attacks. The Talibans old friend Muhammad Taqi Usmani asked them to let girls go to school but they said no
The West keeps its distance but that strategy isnt working anymore. Since fall-2021 Taliban had about 2000 meetings with other countries; they dont really care about Western recognition now. The US needs new ways to work with them – staying away means losing any chance to help make things better in Afghanistan
