Inderfurth-Zahir Meeting
by
Dr. G. Rauf Roashan

During the same week, the Taleban’s deadline for receiving evidence in support of the American claims of Ben Ladin’s involvement in terrorist activities against Americans and American interests was reached without any contact on the issue between the U. S. and the Taleban and the Taleban went ahead and declared Ben Ladin "without sin" and a free man.

American stand on the issue of Afghanistan is a complex one. For years now, the stand lacks clarity and is shrouded in mystery. Declaration of American position on issues related to different aspects of the Afghan problem has been piecemeal and far apart. One would think that probably the complexity of the situation in south Asia, American interests in Iran, Pakistan, India, Central Asia and the Middle East have made it difficult for the administration to come up with a clear cut declaration of a stand on the issue of the solution of the Afghan problem. America which is now openly stating its stand regarding the need for a new leadership in Iraq, has remained quiet and cautious on the issue of the need for a leadership for Afghanistan. In the meantime, it has favored, depending on the trend of affairs, one group over another, one of Afghanistan’s neighbors over the other and above all has tried to keep the ball in the court of the United Nations, where the United States is more than a player and where it has and it can play the role of the owner or the coach or the umpire or that of the spectator and or of all of the above.

Under these circumstances, a visit by American Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia to Rome for the purpose of meeting with the former king of Afghanistan, Zahir Shah is interpreted as significant by political observers of the Afghan issue. King Zahir, probably one of the last hopes for serving as a uniting factor for the social and political groupings in Afghanistan has been blamed, out of frustration, by many of procrastination regarding action for saving of the Afghan nation and for having been either too late or too slow or too mysterious in reacting to the opportunities for solutions to the Afghan imbroglio. King Zahir Shah had a long reign as the monarch of Afghanistan. It was during the last quarter of his reign when he himself was left at the helm of leadership and free from the influence of his uncles. It was also during this last quarter of his reign that democracy was introduced by the monarchy to the nation. One day he himself told me that while he preferred democracy to emanate from the nation, the need for going forward was so great that he could not wait any longer and took it upon himself to present his nation with the asset of democracy in the form of separation of powers incorporated in a new constitution which also provided for many other political freedoms like freedom to establish political parties, freedom of the press etc. In practice however many of these ideals remained as ideals on paper. For this there were many reasons some of which this column has discussed in previous commentaries. But ever-since the communist coup a group of educated Afghans including former government officials, many tribal chiefs and those who were familiar with the king’s liberal ways considered him a uniting factor and a refill for the vacuum of a united leader for the Afghan nation.

That the United States has now talked, fruitfully, as was reported by the Jang newspaper of Peshawar, with the former monarch, shows a newer trend and a turning point in the American stand on Afghanistan. It is obvious that Taleban with their extremely hard line regarding their stand on Osama Ben Ladin, reactionary policies and continued failure of gaining recognition by countries of the world apart from Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, are now not favored by the United States as an ideal government in the heart of South Asia. As recent events stand witness, alternatives such as the Rabbani government or factional chiefs did not work in Afghanistan. A moderate, enlightened group not antagonistic to the West and yet favored by many of the Afghans who have suffered hard and long at the hands of those who used and are using Islam to fasten their grip on power in the country, will be preferable, logical and advisable. King Zahir and the Afghan royalists, it would appear, are now considered as a strong option for providing such a government. It appears that the United States is probing this option. Although the United States has considered this contact and talks with the king as routine, yet it is apparent that this routine has been one occasion in almost a decade. However, for the alternative to prove viable it is essential that its details be shared with the Afghan nation. The king and the United States both should make the objectives of the new approach clear and share them with the Afghans everywhere. This would gain more supporters for the option, and who knows, it might make it possible for the Afghan nation to elect to have an Islamic government under a system whereby the King serves as the uniting factor and leads the country towards permanent peace. It should also be realized and acknowledged that all decisions regarding Afghanistan should receive the approval of the Afghan nation.

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