While US political and security experts continue their confabulations as part of a review of Obama administration’s Af-Pak policy, it is emerging that one of the key components would be to continue the back channel dialogue with the Taliban in an attempt to find a workable administrative structure in Afghanistan. President Obama has approved last week a Defence Bill that would allow American Military commanders in Afghanistan to use monetary incentives to win loyalties of Taliban militants who agree to shun violence. The existing provision of Commanders Emergency Response Programme (CERP) in the bill provides for authorisation of such payments to insurgents who are willing to switch sides.
The US administration is also consulting China and India on the ways to bring peace and stability in Afghanistan and Pakistan. US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has held talks in Washington last week with the visiting Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission of China, Xu Caihou.
Although, the Chinese have been expressing concerns over security threats in Afghanistan and Pakistan, they have been quite deft in negotiating lucrative contracts both in Taliban/Al Qaida influential areas of Afghanistan and Taliban infested region of NWFA in Pakistan. While many Chinese Engineers and workers were kidnapped earlier in these areas, mainly motivated by ransom money, the Chinese directly negotiated with the Taliban elements and were able to secure their release without involving the authorities in either of the countries.
The Chinese made a Copper Mine deal in the Aynak area south of Kabul, 2 years ago during an even worse stage of violence. In Nov. 2007, the China Metallurgical Group won the right to develop the Aynak Copper field in a former Al Qaida strong hold. Many US and Canadian Companies have complained secretive nature of the negotiations, while analysts suggested that the deal under-values the mine.
Meanwhile, a new Taliban structure was constituted in Herat following killing of pro-Taliban local warlord Ghulam Yahya Shewshan. Taliban’s shadow Governor Mullah Niazi is the Head of the new hierarchy while Abdulla Shewshany is reported to be the new Taliban commander in the province. Mullah Ramdan is believed to have been made the Deputy Commander.
