The tragedy of Afghanistan’s earthquake should end its isolation

The agony of long-suffering Afghans won't be ending soon. Last Wednesday’s deadly earthquake delivered yet another blow to the inhabitants of the two eastern provinces of Paktika and Khost. The quake that struck the two provinces caused incalculable damage to lives and properties. More than 1,150 people were officially declared dead while more than 2,000 were wounded. The death toll for children stands at over 150. About 10,000 houses were destroyed.  

Rockfalls and mudslides wiped out hamlets perched precariously on mountain slopes. The devastation spread panic. A government that is still struggling to establish its writ all over the country in terms of administrative outreach was hampered by a lack of resources and transport to come to the rescue of thousands of survivors.

The international response to the quake was lukewarm at best. Two factors militated against a quick and speedy intervention by the UN or other aid organizations. The new Taliban government has not been recognized by any other country so far. And the sanctions imposed on the Afghan banking system made it difficult to transfer money by UN agencies or other aid organizations to the Afghan government or aid groups that are operating in Afghanistan.

The Taliban government have launched an appeal for help from all over the world. Taliban have also declared that any organization wishing to deliver any type of assistance to the survivors would be fully facilitated.

The earthquake and the suffering caused to thousands of poor, hungry people should force the countries of the world to immediately reappraise their policy and grant recognition to the Taliban government. 

Rustam Shah

 

In a situation as desperate as this, one would have expected that countries would respond positively to the need for dispatching urgent humanitarian assistance to those affected by the earthquake. People need tents, food, medicines and clean drinking water on a most urgent basis.  Some immediate help was provided by a few countries including Pakistan. But it is not enough.

Regrettably, the attitude of some rich nations, notably the United States has been far from reassuring. A country that is reeling from acute poverty, high unemployment and total isolation, needs desperate substantial financial assistance to help overcome the grave consequences caused by the deadly tremors. But the US continues to withhold Afghan central bank assets worth more than $7 billion.  Some time back, the US President decided to divert half of this amount to the victims of the 9/11 attacks of 2001. Nothing could be more unjust and unfair because the assets held in American banks are collectively owned by the Afghan people. They do not belong to any group. And these assets are needed now as the country deals with the pain and suffering caused by the earthquake. To refuse to release funds of the people of Afghanistan in such a grave emergency is wholly unwarranted.

This brings into focus the need for ending the country’s isolation. Unfortunately, the Taliban government have not launched any concerted effort to win support in its bid for international recognition. This policy of ‘wait and see’ will prove very costly to the government and its people. 

The Taliban government have solid credentials to launch intense efforts regionally and beyond to persuade countries to grant them recognition. Taliban have the whole country at their command. All their rivals, the powerful warlords have left the country. They are struggling to defeat Daesh. They are keen to establish good working relations with all their neighbors and to undertake the gigantic task of reconstruction and rehabilitation. In this historic endeavor they need support, both technical and financial, from the UN  and all other friendly countries. The waiving of sanctions that obstruct the transfer of resources to Afghan banks or aid organizations is a priority. And the key to this lies with the US.

It is time the Taliban government launches an aggressive policy on seeking recognition. This will need intense diplomatic efforts at all levels. Special envoys need to be dispatched to countries in the region. The government’s achievements relating to its battle with Daesh and other such militant outfits need to be underscored. The fact that people in Afghanistan have welcomed the end of more than four decades of conflict needs to be emphasized. The failure of the Taliban government will be a serious blow to peace in Afghanistan and the entire region.

What is the alternative to recognition? Continuation of the stalemate with all its attendant misery, pain and suffering. The choice is obvious. The time is now. The earthquake and the suffering caused to thousands of poor, hungry people should force the countries of the world to immediately reappraise their policy and grant recognition to the Taliban government. 

- Rustam Shah Mohmand is a specialist of Afghanistan and Central Asian Affairs. He has served as Pakistan’s ambassador to Afghanistan and also held position of Chief Commissioner Refugees for a decade.