I have heard the dialogue in many Hollywood movies and TV shows “The USA doesn’t Negotiate with terrorists”, I used to believe that. Later I read through government policies that it was true I felt what a political will of the nation that projects itself as a world leader. If I recall that appreciation today I feel, was I wrong that time or the times has changed?

The United States of America and the Taliban are in talks with each other for peace in Afghanistan and the process is in end-stage. The talks are going in between Taliban leaders in Europe and with Trump Administration.

As the talks are going through there are reports of Suicide bombings in Afghanistan. A bombing in a Marriage reception where more than 60 people are dead and hundreds are dead. If these acts of violence are ongoing how can there be peace?

The Afghan government is not happy with Talks

Even though talks are going on the biggest Ally and active government in Afghanistan is not happy with the way things going. People of Afghanistan and the government are fighting around 2-decade old war that turned their lives upside down and they are not happy with the US to initiate talks with the Taliban.

Many fear after US withdrawal there will be bloodshed and democratically elected government and people will be at receiving end.

The events are occurring at the unfortunate time when Afganistan is started building their country and development has been kickstarted with full flow.

International view on US – Taliban Talks.

Many in the international arena believe the United States of America is acting hastily and making decisions due to domestic pressure and political liabilities.

India is a strong critic of the talks with the Taliban as it is a non-state actor. Indian diplomatic policy is clear in peace talks with support to Afganistan Government and the people of Afganistan and avoids talks with Taliban.

Pakistan, on the other hand, is using the Taliban to strong-arm in reaching a deal. This will ensure Taliban support to Pakistan unlike Afganistan Government and they can extort some money out of the United States of America.

Pakistan has its regional intentions clear, find any way to counter India which has been the policy of Pakistan for the last 7 decades. Increasing Indian influence in Afghanistan is a bad sign for Pakistan.

Pakistan is harbouring state actors against India and the United States is a well-known fact. The talks push by Pakistan is part of the same strategy where the American administration is falling in the trap.

China, on the other hand, has mixed views on this. They want peace in the region but they do not like the Taliban. Chinese are having issues with Ughyur Muslims at eastern provinces and they don’t want Talibani Terrorist free from Afgan issues.

China is currently busy with the crackdown on Hong Kong protesters and they don’t want any unwanted attention right now.

Internally they are supporting Pakistan to evacuate The Americans out of Afganistan to limit the US influence in the region adjacent to them

Many European countries and other superpowers are sceptical about talks but not opposing directly.

The USA doesn’t negotiate with terrorists

The United States government iterated their stance time after time that they don’t negotiate with terrorists.

In 2003 then US president George W. Bush

Declared ” You’ve got to be strong, not weak. The only way to deal with these people is to bring them to justice. You can’t talk to them, you can’t negotiate with them.” This is the policy that defined at the start of US – Taliban war and the end with negotiations will neglect sacrifice of courageous US Armed forces and the people laid their life in this decade’s long conflict.

The war on terror became policy failure by the USA with ongoing Taliban Talks. Many people think was talks with the terrorists that took down the world trade centre is what are we thinking when we started the war?

The similar sentiments are shown by other words leaders where they don’t negotiate the terrorists. The iron lady of UK Margarey Thature took the same stance when dealing with IRA she vowed never to negotiate with them.

Was there any other way?

The US is Keen on pulling the troops out of Afganistan at any cost. The prolonged war has cost dearly to many US families. The costs are increasing day by day and situation getting out of hand due to faulty policymaking.

There may have been ways to get troops out of Afganistan. Positioning Joint UN forces of all countries could have been N option.

Many neutral countries could have offered help to solidify the Afganistan Armed forces. Also, the middle East policy towards Iran could have utilized in Afghanistan.

Iran and US nuclear deal could have been boon for Afganistan pull out for the US which is currently depending on Pakistan.

The USA could have used the nuclear deal for supply route for Afganistan and put the terms for the eradication of terrorist launch pads in Pakistan.

The policy of Making Afghan forces to fight the war was the right strategy but not implemented effectively. This could have worked out with little more push and international help.

The Timing of the talks.

Taliban is facing internal crisis and they have many regional enemies which forced them to come forward to the talking table. The USA did not use the Taliban liabilities against them to counter this terrorist organization.

Pakistan is on verge of economic fallout and they could not afford to support these terrorist organization which needs to consider as the win against the enemy.

ISIS is trying to increase its influence in the region and many Taliban terrorists are switching over. The alarming signs are very bad for people of Afganistan. What if the Taliban is replaced with ISIS? The worst possibility one can imagine once the withdrawal of US forces.

The way we see these events unfolding, everyone wants peace but it comes at a certain cost. The time will define who will pay for it the most. As per current proceedings, People of Afganistan will be at the brunt of destruction again.

The Term “The USA doesn’t Negotiate with terrorists” will be obsolete soon. This is a major disaster from The US Policymakers and time will show it again and again.