Topic of the day:-“Remaining Engaged”
Mr. Ghani launched the Kabul Process for Peace and Security Cooperation, and in February, made an unconditional dialogue offer to the Taliban. The Taliban rejected his overture, declaring that they were ready to engage in direct talks only with the Americans. Mr. Ghani persisted, resulting in a three-day ceasefire during Eid. The U.S. softened its stand on an “Afghan-led and Afghan owned peace process”, and in July, senior State Department official Alice Wells was in Doha for a meeting with the Taliban. In September, the State Department announced the appointment of Zalmay Khalilzad (former U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan) as Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation. Mr. Khalilzad, a pushy go-getter, has since been making the rounds in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the U.A.E., Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, the situation continues to worsen. Today, the Afghan government controls barely half the country, with one-sixth under Taliban control and the rest contested. Most significant is the ongoing depletion in the Afghan security forces because of casualties, desertions and a growing reluctance to join. U.S. President Donald Trump’s South Asia policy announced last August aimed at breaking the military stalemate by expanding the U.S. and NATO presence, putting Pakistan on notice and strengthening Afghan capabilities has clearly failed, and this is why multiple processes are underway. Everyone agrees that the war has to end; the question for the U.S. is how to manage the optics of the exit while not conceding victory to the Taliban.
Since July 2011, when the former President and Chair of the HPC, Burhanuddin Rabbani, visited Delhi, India has supported an ‘Afghan-led and Afghan-owned’ peace process. Last month, during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s India visit, both countries expressed their commitment to the Moscow Format. India doesn’t have the leverage to play spoiler but its presence is recognition that its economic cooperation programmes make it the most widely accepted development partner. Pragmatism dictates that India remain engaged with the multiple processes underway. Peace remains elusive but India’s engagement demonstrates commitment to the idea of a stable, independent and peaceful Afghanistan.
MEANINGS AND WORDS
1) bearing
Meaning : a person’s way of standing or moving(n.)
Tamil Meaning : தாங்கி
Synonyms : demeanor
Example : “a man of precise military bearing”
2) manoeuvred
Meaning : move skilfully or carefully(v).
Tamil Meaning : மாற்றம்
Synonyms : stratagem
Antonyms : tautness
Example : “the lorry was unable to manoeuvre comfortably in the narrow street”
3) module
Meaning : a detachable self-contained unit of a spacecraft.
Tamil Meaning : தொகுதி
Synonyms : Unit
Antonyms : aggregate
Example : “Spacelab, an extra module for the shuttle, will quadruple the experimental facilities on board”
4) regime
Meaning : a government, especially an authoritarian one(n).
Tamil Meaning : ஆட்சி
Synonyms : rule
Antonyms : chaos
Example : “ideological opponents of the regime”
5) propellant
Meaning : capable of propelling something.
Tamil Meaning : ஓட்டு
Synonyms : stimulus
Antonyms : undynamic
Example : “propellant gases”
6) cryogenic
Meaning : relating to or involving the branch of physics that deals with the production and effects of very low temperatures.(adj)
Tamil Meaning : தாழ்
Synonyms : refrigerant
Antonyms : burned
Example : “a powerful cryogenic engine”
7) morale
Meaning : the confidence, enthusiasm, and discipline of a person or group at a particular time.(n)
Tamil Meaning : மன உறுதியை
Synonyms : spirit
Antonyms : aimlessness
Example : “the team’s morale was high”
8) dented
Meaning : have an adverse effect on; diminish(v)
Synonyms : indented
Antonyms : increased
Example : “this neither deterred him nor dented his enthusiasm”
9) nudge
Meaning : prod (someone) gently with one’s elbow in order to attract attention.
Tamil Meaning : தூண்டல்
Synonyms : push
Antonyms : dissuade
Example : “people were nudging each other and pointing at me”
10) reconciliation
Meaning : the restoration of friendly relations(n).
Tamil Meaning : சமரசம்
Synonyms : compromise
Antonyms : conflict
Example : “his reconciliation with your uncle”
11) diplomatic
Meaning : of or concerning diplomacy(adj).
Tamil Meaning : தூதரக
Synonyms : politic
Antonyms : rude
Example : “diplomatic relations with Britain were broken”
12) refrained
Meaning : stop oneself from doing something(v).
Tamil Meaning : தவிர்த்து
Synonyms : stopped
Antonyms : acted
Example : “she refrained from comment”
13) insurgency
Meaning : an active revolt or uprising(n).
Tamil Meaning : கிளர்ச்சி
Synonyms : rebellion
Antonyms : compliance
Example : “rebels are waging an armed insurgency to topple the monarchy”
14) opium
Meaning : a reddish-brown heavy-scented addictive drug prepared from the juice of the opium poppy, used illicitly as a narcotic and occasionally in medicine as an analgesic.
Synonyms : morphine
Example : “he was addicted to opium”
15) persuade
Meaning : induce (someone) to do something through reasoning or argument.
Tamil Meaning : இணங்க
Synonyms : convince
Antonyms : dissuade
Example : “it wasn’t easy, but I persuaded him to do the right thing”
16) surge
Meaning : a sudden powerful forward or upward movement, especially by a crowd or by a natural force such as the tide.
Tamil Meaning : எழுச்சி
Synonyms : rise
Antonyms : decline
Example : “flooding caused by tidal surges”
17) combat
Meaning : fighting between armed forces.
Tamil Meaning : போர்
Synonyms : battle
Antonyms : peace
Example : “five Hurricanes were shot down in combat”
18) prolonged
Meaning : continuing for a long time or longer than usual; lengthy.
Tamil Meaning : நீண்ட
Synonyms : extended
Antonyms : short
Example : “the region suffered a prolonged drought”
19) negotiations
Meaning : discussion aimed at reaching an agreement.
Tamil Meaning : பேச்சுவார்த்தைகள்
Synonyms : discussions
Antonyms : provocations
Example : “a worldwide ban is currently under negotiation“
20) contested
Meaning : engage in competition to attain (a position of power)(v).
Tamil Meaning : போட்டியிட்ட
Synonyms : disputed
Antonyms : opted
Example : “she declared her intention to contest the presidency”
