Topic Of The Day:-“Tough-Talking: On Taliban Reconciliation Process”
India Must Ensure It’s Not Cut Out Of The Resolution Process With The Taliban
The Taliban reconciliation process is moving at a faster pace than was anticipated. Talks facilitated by Russia in Moscow this week, with mainstream Afghan politicians sitting around the table with Taliban leaders, are similar in their approach to the recent U.S.-Taliban talks in Qatar, though the two are rival processes. The U.S. and Russia have accepted the idea that peace in Afghanistan is not possible without major concessions to the Taliban, including dialogue without insisting on a cessation of violence. In the duration of the Moscow conference alone, Taliban fighters killed 47 security forces personnel in attacks in Kunduz, Baghlan and Samangan provinces. The U.S. and Russia have, in separate processes, agreed to sidestep the Ashraf Ghani regime in Kabul, and accepted the Taliban’s condition that it will not negotiate with the elected Afghan government at this stage. And both the Russian and U.S. processes are dependent on cooperation from Pakistan, which retains its influence over the Taliban leadership. Clearly, the current talks with the Taliban are not within the “red lines” agreed to by all stakeholders in the past: they are not Afghan-led, owned or controlled, and the Taliban has not abjured violence, or sworn allegianceto the Afghan constitution before joining talks.However, despite the deep and obvious misgivings in New Delhi, it would be pointless to ignore or reject the outcomes of the talks, where some progress has been made. The U.S. has managed to bring senior Taliban leaders to the table, and is discussing the contours of its ultimate withdrawal from the Afghan war. The Taliban has unequivocally renounced ties with al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, and committed to preventing Afghan soil from being used by foreign terrorists. For its part, Russia has hosted conferences where Taliban leaders sat down with members of the Afghan High Peace Council and senior Afghan politicians, including some contesting in this year’s presidential elections. While India’s principled position that it will not directly or publicly talk to the Taliban until it engages the Afghan government remains valid, it is necessary that India stays abreast of all negotiations and isn’t cut out of the resolution process. It is hoped that a robust channel is open between Indian intelligence agencies and all important groups in Afghanistan,including the Taliban, in order to ensure that Indian interests, development projects and citizens are kept secure. New Delhi must intensify its dialogue with regional and global stakeholders, and impress upon them that any dialogue with the Taliban must not come at the cost of the hard-fought victories of the Afghan people in the past two decades: on establishing constitutional democracy and the rule of law, and securing the rights of women and minorities.
MEANINGS AND WORDS
1) reconciliation
Meaning : the restoration of friendly relations(n).
Synonyms : accord
Antonyms : disagreement
Example : “his reconciliation with your uncle”
2) anticipated
Meaning : regard as probable; expect or predict(v).
Tamil Meaning : எதிர்பார்க்கப்பட்ட
Synonyms : foreseen
Antonyms : unexpected
Example : “she anticipated scorn on her return to the theatre”
3) concessions
Meaning : a thing that is granted, especially in response to demands(n).
Synonyms : compromise
Antonyms : disagreement
Example : “the government was unwilling to make any further concessions”
4) negotiate
Meaning : obtain or bring about by discussion(v).
Synonyms : confer
Antonyms : confuse
Example : “he negotiated a new contract with the sellers”
5) retains
Meaning : continue to have (something); keep possession of(v).
Synonyms : contain
Antonyms : abandon
Example : “Labour retained the seat”
6) abjured
Meaning : solemnly renounce (a belief, cause, or claim)(v).
Synonyms : recant
Antonyms : allow
Example : “MPs were urged to abjure their Jacobite allegiance”
7) despite
Meaning : without being affected by; in spite of.
Synonyms : against
Antonyms : exalt
Example : “he remains a great leader despite age and infirmity”
8) contours
Meaning : an outline representing or bounding the shape or form of something(n).
Synonyms : curve
Antonyms : core
Example : “she traced the contours of his face with her finger”
9) contesting
Meaning : engage in competition to attain (a position of power).
Synonyms : litigate
Antonyms : agree
Example : “she declared her intention to contest the presidency”
10) ensure
Meaning : make certain that (something) will occur or be the case(v).
Synonyms : assure
Antonyms : endanger
Example : “the client must ensure that accurate records are kept”
