U.S. seeking compromise with Taliban to set up coalition govt in Afghanistan - Russian analyst
MOSCOW. July 27 (Interfax) - The U.S. is focusing its efforts in Afghanistan on ensuring stability after withdrawing most of its troops, but it is unlikely to be able to do this on its own, says Igor Morozov, a military analyst, an expert on the Middle East, and a member of the Federation Council international affairs committee.
The U.S. is currently exploring ways to optimize its presence in Afghanistan and set up an administration in that country that could govern it and control the situation on the whole, and this is the reason why the U.S. is seeking contacts with the Taliban, Morozov told Interfax. "The U.S. has resorted to the Taliban's appeasement and is likely to seek to form a coalition government in Afghanistan. But it is a big question how successful this is going to be and how realistic it is to maintain balance between various political forces after the American troops are withdrawn. Nevertheless, the Taliban's recognition is a forced compromise," he said.
Afghanistan has "an important geostrategic location, and the way the situation here develops further concerns countries bordering Afghanistan, including Russia," Morozov said.
He suggested that all countries of the region, including China, India, Pakistan and Iran, should make collective efforts to improve the situation.
"It is obvious that the U.S. on its own is incapable of resolving the problems related to Afghanistan, including the spread of terrorism and Islamic radicalism and drug trafficking," Morozov said.
Once stability in Afghanistan is achieved, the U.S. should develop cooperation with such regional organizations as the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), he said.
"Russian-American cooperation could be very successful and productive" in this area, Morozov said. "The U.S. and Russia, along with other countries, should help Afghanistan set up a viable government that can oppose pressure from extremist forces," he said.