Colonialist Powers Seeks to Trap Taliban Within the Web of the Global International Order
By: Musab Umair – Wilayah Pakistan

The major powers are now actively engaging the Taliban of Afghanistan, within the current global world order. Increasing engagement heralds new dangers for the Islamic Ummah, regarding its respected frontier land of ribaat, and graveyard of empires, Afghanistan.

As for the United States, the Voice of America reported on 1 February 2024 (Source 1) that, “The United States is cautiously exploring the possibility of consular access to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, according to a newly released strategy document from the State Department.” The cited strategy document is entitled, “Integrated Country Strategy: Afghanistan,” and states that, “we must build functional relationships that advance our objectives.” (Source 2)

As for China, a prominent stakeholder in Afghanistan within its region, it has initiated formal, diplomatic relations. It is the first major power to do so. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan reported on 8 February 2024, “The President of the People’s Republic of China H.E. Xi Jinping, accepted the letter of credence of Mawlawi Asadullah (BilalKarimi) as the Ambassador Extraordinaire and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan to China.” (Source 3)

As for the other major regional stakeholder, the Russian news agency TASS stated on 28 September 2023, “Russia may recognize the interim Taliban (outlawed in Russia) government in the future, but its representatives must earn this by fulfilling their obligations, Russian Presidential Special Representative for Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov said in an interview with RTVI.” (Source 4)

Russia’s major concern is that of an ethnically diverse government that is not restricted to the Pushtun race, but incudes races found in the former Soviet, Central Asian states, the Tajiks and the Uzbeks.

There really is nothing new in the strategy towards Afghanistan, when compared to the general strategy towards the Broader Middle East. It is this strategy that has ensured the dominance of colonialism over the Islamic World since the destruction of the Khilafah on 3 March 1924, corresponding to 28 Rajab 1342 AH. As for Afghanistan itself, the major colonialist powers are salivating over it being the “Saudi Arabia of lithium,” amongst many other riches that it holds within its mountainous terrains.

The implementation of the strategy depends on a system of penalties and incentives to ensure compliance. Its most important incentives include pumping unprecedented amounts of humanitarian assistance, promoting economic trade, increasing financing and convincing the Taliban to adopt international economic norms. As for penalties within the region, the agent rulers of Pakistan caused huge refugee crises within Afghanistan. After meetings with US officials, the rulers of Pakistan suddenly evicted hundreds of thousands of Afghani Muslims who had been living within Pakistan for decades, with many of their youth not knowing anything about life outside of Pakistan. In addition, there are violent clashes between Pakistan Army and the tribal fighters, which is a further, bloody, penalty. As for the Western states, they raise hue-and-cry over the rights of women and children to create pressure, even though these rights have no value for the Western states, as has become abundantly clear in the case of Gaza.

Certain factions within the Taliban express interest in fostering constructive relations with the West, a stance that heralds dangers. Such factions are making the same fatal error made by other leaderships in the Muslim countries. They are aligning with colonialists’ powers, thus falling into the trap of their web of laws and conventions. The leadership of the Taliban must understand that colonialism exited Afghanistan from the front door, after Jihad, and is now attempting a re-entry through the back door, using international institutions.

The foreign policy of major powers revolves around colonialism. The United States ended its military colonialism in Afghanistan. It is attempting to reactivate its channels through economic and intelligence approaches in Afghanistan, particularly the intelligence channels that collapsed after 2021.

In the midst of intense competition between the major powers, the mujahid Taliban must forge an independent path for the Islamic Ummah by re-establishing the Khilafah (Caliphate). Alignment with major powers is a path previously adopted by Islamist groups, which has always failed, resulting in the exploitation of Muslim resources for colonialist objectives. Thus, Taliban must sever contact with the enemies of Muslim and their agents in the Islamic World entirely. It must fully engage in the one project that will replace the current global order. That project is the Khilafah (Caliphate) on the Method of Prophethood. It will unify the Muslim states into a single, powerful Khilafah. The Khilafah will liberate occupied lands and opening new lands to Islam by Dawah and Jihad. It will turn submission into dominance, and defeat into victory. The Messenger of Allah said, «ما ترك قوم الجهاد إلاّ ذُلّوا» “No people abandon Jihad expect that they are humiliated.” [Ahmad].

References

1.https://www.voanews.com/a/us-exploring-consular-return-to-afghanistan-without-recognizing-taliban-rule/7467103.html
2. https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ICS_SCA_Afghanistan_31OCT2023_PUBLIC.pdf
3 https://mfa.gov.af/en/16271
4 https://tass.com/politics/1681639