KABUL: In a thought-provoking piece published in the Financial Times, Mark Malloch-Brown, the president of the Open Society Foundation and a distinguished former UN official, sheds light on the detrimental consequences of the international community’s prevailing policies.
The article, titled “The West’s Imperative: Shifting from the ‘Great Game’ in Afghanistan,” highlights the disheartening reality that these policies are inadvertently jeopardizing the welfare of those most in need, particularly women and girls.
Malloch-Brown draws attention to the dire situation unfolding in Afghanistan, particularly in the aftermath of its isolation from the global stage. This isolation is characterized by the denial of diplomatic recognition, dwindling aid, sanctions, and the freezing of assets. Amidst this bleak scenario, he addresses the tendency in the US and Britain to downplay the policy failures that Afghanistan represents, relegating them to the annals of history before the next electoral cycle.
However, Malloch-Brown underscores that this pattern of neglect is not confined to the present moment but rather echoes a longer history of geopolitical and regional competition that has consistently neglected the Afghan people’s welfare. The focus has often strayed from the needs and aspirations of ordinary Afghans, perpetuating a cycle of abandonment.
The humanitarian crisis that has unfolded in Afghanistan cannot be overlooked. As the world marks the second anniversary of the Taliban’s declaration of victory, the numbers are staggering: approximately 28.8 million Afghans are in dire need of immediate assistance, a sharp increase from the 18.4 million reported earlier. Moreover, an alarming 6 million individuals stand on the precipice of famine.
Among the most affected are women and girls, who have been subjected to a double blow—both from the rollback of their rights by the Taliban and the broader challenges of poverty and hunger that disproportionately impact them. Malloch-Brown’s concern extends to the common people of Afghanistan, as he highlights the adverse consequences of diminishing international assistance. The reduction in aid takes a substantial toll on those grappling with a humanitarian crisis, compounded by staggering poverty rates and a struggling economy.
Economists, including Seyar Qureshi and Abdul Naseer Rishtia, underscore the necessity of continued international assistance to alleviate Afghanistan’s economic hardships. Qureshi emphasizes that the brunt of economic restrictions falls on the most vulnerable segments of society. In light of this, Malloch-Brown contends that promoting the welfare of ordinary Afghans necessitates engaging with the ruling regime, even if this entails making nominal concessions.
The author proposes the establishment of a contact group comprising Western powers, Afghanistan’s neighbours, the Taliban, and ideally, Afghan civil society. This coalition would strive to achieve objectives such as a more compassionate counter-narcotics strategy, improved aid distribution—especially to women and girls—and enhanced clarity regarding sanctions to encourage foreign investment in crucial sectors like irrigation. Malloch-Brown envisions this group as a platform for engagement with Afghan stakeholders beyond the Taliban, fostering the seeds of a more inclusive political landscape.
While acknowledging the justification for isolating Afghanistan due to the Taliban’s brutality, human rights violations, and poor governance, Malloch-Brown emphasizes the paradoxical outcome: such isolation disproportionately harms the regime’s victims. By reevaluating current approaches and centring the needs of the Afghan people, the international community has the opportunity to reshape its stance on Afghanistan, emphasizing compassion over geopolitical considerations. In doing so, it can pave the way for a more inclusive, humane, and prosperous future for Afghanistan and its people.
He wrote: “All parties have a vital interest in preventing the country plunging over the edge. Famine, state failure and even new conflict in Afghanistan would further destabilise Pakistan and the wider region, and make further refugees flee the country. Afghans now make up the largest cohort attempting to cross the English Channel.
“This presents western and other leaders with a simple choice: keep pursuing ‘Great Game’ politics or for once put the people of Afghanistan first. More than 30 years of the former have got us where we are. A new approach is long overdue.”
