WASHINGTON: Former US national security adviser Keith Kellogg has urged Washington to engage credible Afghan political figures seeking to establish an alternative to Taliban rule.
In an opinion article published in The Washington Post on Thursday, Kellogg argued that the United States should not consider Afghanistan a closed chapter following the withdrawal of American forces in 2021.
He said the Taliban had failed to establish effective institutions, economic stability and international relationships necessary for sustainable development since returning to power.
According to Kellogg, Afghanistan remains largely disconnected from the international financial system, while security concerns, weak contract enforcement and political interference continue to discourage foreign investment.
Calls for Afghan-led political alternatives
Kellogg urged Washington to identify and engage Afghan political figures capable of developing a legitimate alternative to Taliban governance.
He said the United States should assess their leadership abilities, political credibility and capacity to attract public support while maintaining diplomatic, economic and financial pressure on the Taliban.
The former official stressed that such engagement would not require the deployment of American troops, another state-building programme or additional financial burdens on US taxpayers.
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He argued that two decades of American military involvement demonstrated that lasting political change could not be achieved through military force alone without domestic legitimacy.
Kellogg said Afghanistan’s future should ultimately be determined by Afghans themselves, pointing to experienced business leaders, former government officials and younger professionals inside the country and abroad as potential contributors to political change.
Kellogg highlighted the country’s deposits of copper, lithium, iron ore and other critical minerals used in defence and technology industries.
According to Kellogg, Chinese companies have pursued mining concessions and broader commercial relationships with the Taliban, potentially increasing Beijing’s long-term economic and political influence.
Kellogg argued that Washington should remain engaged in Afghanistan’s political future to protect its strategic interests without returning to military intervention.
A retired US Army general, Kellogg served in senior national security positions during Donald Trump’s first administration and was appointed a special envoy during his second presidency.
