Changing US-Afghanistan ties The Excelsior 05 Apr 2025
Article Read Time
Changing US-Afghanistan ties The Excelsior 05 Apr 2025
Afghanistan recently released a US citizen, George Glezmann, held by them for over the past two years. He was arrested while touring Afghanistan in Dec 2022, an arrest which the US declared illegal. The release followed months of negotiations between the US and Afghanistan involving Qatar.
George was handed over to the US hostage envoy Adam Boehler when he visited Kabil accompanied by former US ambassador to Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad. As per Khalilzad, ‘The Taliban government agreed to free him as a goodwill gesture.’ There are rumours that Khalilzad may be re-appointed US pointsman for Afghanistan.
There are two more US citizens who remain captive in Afghanistan. Discussing conditions for their release, reclusive Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, mentioned, ‘An Afghan is imprisoned in Guantánamo. Two Americans are imprisoned here. They ask us to release them safely. We say: release our prisoner safely too — why won’t you.’ There has been no discussion thus far on exchange of prisoners between the two countries, but could be the next step.
In response to the Taliban releasing George, the US government lifted its USD 10 million bounty on Taliban leader Sirajuddin Haqqani alongside Abdul Aziz Haqqani and Yahya Haqqani, though they remain on the FBIs wanted list. The three have been accused of the 2008 Kabul Serena hotel bombing which killed six, including an American citizen.
Sirajuddin Haqqani had earlier been permitted to travel to Qatar as also Saudi Arabia for Haj. This action by the US signals a positive shift towards its relationship with the Taliban regime in Kabul. The Afghan government acknowledged the US decision. Additionally, the Taliban announced that it may soon be given control of the Afghan embassy in Washington.
While the world, pressured by the UN and western nations, has been hounding Afghanistan over human rights, education for women, the US, by this action, conveys that what Afghanistan does internally is its own concern, what it does externally is what matters to them. While it may be early days, it does signal a standdown in US outlook to Kabul.
Trump had earlier demanded that the Taliban return the USD 7 Billion equipment left behind in the country. This was rejected by Kabul, claiming the equipment was essential to keep the ISIS at bay. The US stopped pushing this demand further, aware that it could never be met.
India has also been signalling a change in outlook towards Kabul. In Jan this year, the Indian foreign secretary, Vikram Misri, had an interaction with the acting foreign minister of Afghanistan, Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi, in Dubai. This was preceded by an Indian Joint Secretary meeting Taliban’s acting defence minister in Kabul.
The Indian MEA in a statement mentioned, ‘Muttaqi appreciated and thanked the Indian leadership for continuing to engage and support the people of Afghanistan. It was decided that India would consider engaging in development projects in the near future, in addition to the ongoing humanitarian assistance programme.’ India is the leading donor for foodgrains and medical supplies to Afghanistan.
There are also reports that the Indian government has agreed in principle to permit Kabul to deploy an ‘unofficial’ and ‘unrecognized’ senior representative at its embassy in Delhi. He would not be recognized as the ambassador nor would he be permitted to fly the Afghan flag, however would represent the Kabul regime. India also has a technical team deployed at its embassy in Kabul to monitor aid to the country since Jun 2022.
In all probability India and the US are combining their efforts towards engaging the Afghan government. The intent could be for multiple purposes. These would include keeping China at bay as Beijing shows interest in investing in Afghanistan’s mineral resources and enhancing connectivity with Kabul. It could also be to encourage Kabul to engage the ISIS, which is expanding its footprint, and is backed by Pakistan.
Russia is also rebuilding its ties with Kabul. A Russian delegation, led by Sergei Shoigu, the secretary of Russia’s powerful Security Council, visited Kabul in end Nov 2024. Moscow is considering removing the Taliban from its list of terrorist organizations. The US would be seeking to restrict Kabul-Moscow ties.
Another player in the region is Iran. Iran has closer ties with Afghanistan’s Kandahar faction, rather than with the leadership in Kabul. It could exploit Afghanistan for strategic depth in case of a conflict with the west. By engaging with Kabul, displaying an intent to normalize ties, the US would restrict Tehran’s influence in Afghanistan.
It is possibly to contain Iran’s engagement with Kabul that the US has imposed sanctions on India funded Chabahar port. However, sanctions would compel Kabul to fall back on Pakistan’s Karachi port, which Islamabad exploits by regularly blocking the Torkham border crossing with Afghanistan, post terror strikes.
India and the US jointly enhancing ties with Kabul would have an impact on Pakistan, which is being hit by simultaneous attacks from the Taliban backed TTP (Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan), its offshoots and the Baloch Freedom Fighters. Its influence as being the nation which could control Kabul has come to an end. Pakistan has repeatedly threatened to invade the country as also target anti-Pakistan groups based in the country. It banked on support from the US. This may no longer be the case.
While the US military continues to engage the Pak army, the US government has a different approach. Pakistan’s government has claimed it is working towards improving ties with Washington. At the same time, a bipartisan bill, termed as the ‘Pakistan democracy act’ is being pushed in the US senate. It seeks to sanction Pakistan’s army chief for ‘persecution of political opponents’ including Imran Khan.
Trump has thus far neither commented on Pak nor displayed any intent to engage them. While nothing much may happen on the bill, the fact remains that Imran Khan is considered a political prisoner and there are growing demands from the US for his release. This may impact US-Pak ties.
There are also claims that US interest in Afghanistan is limited however, since the Kabul regime has displayed no intent of hosting anti-US groups nor a desire to expand beyond its borders, US engagement could increase. US intent to re-engage would become clearer when it releases part of Afghanistan’s USD 9.5 billion frozen in its banks since the Taliban takeover.
About the Author
Maj Gen Harsha Kakkar
Retired Major General Indian Army