GAINS IN REACHING OUT TO MODERATE TALIBAN

As sought by President Ghani, UNSC must activate a non-interference mechanism for verification of frontier activities. Rawalpindi, on its part, must help fight the real enemy and not create a smokescreen of the IS 

This month, the United National Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 2344 (2017) extended the mandate of United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan by another year, making it America???s longest war of choice. Ever since the US and the the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) drawdown at the end of 2014, and Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) took full charge of security, the Afghans appear to be under pressure. They called 2015 the year of setbacks and 2016 the worst year in terms of casualties and attrition.

Afghanistan???s National Security Advisor Mohammad Hanif Atmar, last month in New Delhi, said that ANSF, on an average was suffering 28 fatalities daily. In comparison, the counter-terror campaign in Jammu & Kashmir is a cakewalk. In 2007, Indian security forces lost 122 personnel, 12 in 2012 and last year, 95 combatants. The fall of Sangin, the lynchpin district in Helmand Province this month, shows how fluid the situation is. While US Special Inspector General for Reconstruction???s latest report indicates that 57.2 per cent of 407 district are under Afghan control or influence, Gen John Nicholson, Commander, Operation Resolute Force, says 70 per cent of Afghan population lives in areas under Government control.

During this year???s Raisina Dialogue, former