Russian
reassertion?: Afghan President Karzai, left, greets
Pakistan President Zardari as Russian President
Medvedev
looks on, at a meeting in Sochi, Russia, Aug.
18. As America
pulls out, Russia seeks to increase its
influence in Afghanistan.
The Nation, Pakistan
Sochi Summit: 'One Small Step Out of America's Grip'
"The summit was a signal that a new power game will emerge in
Afghanistan and beyond - and that the United States and NATO will be
increasingly challenged, not only by their own failures in Afghanistan, but by
the resurgent ambitions of Russia."
THE summit between Pakistan,
Afghanistan, Russia and Tajikistan held in Sochi, Russia, was an important
reassertion of Russia’s role in this region - one of many efforts by Russia to
regain its lost sphere of influence in Central Asia and Afghanistan. Reminiscent
of the Soviet era, the multi-party summit is one more effort by Russia to move
toward cooperation in the Central Asian-Afghanistan region. Pakistan’s
participation was a small step toward moving out of America's grip in terms of
Afghan policy. The participants committed themselves to helping Afghanistan
rebuild its infrastructure, with an urgent focus on the Salang Tunnel linking
north and south Afghanistan. Other joint projects also encompass the energy
sector, including the CASE-1000 project for transporting power from Tajikistan
to Afghanistan and Pakistan. These three countries welcomed Russia’s
participation. The summit also called on the international community to come
forward and help Pakistan cope with its catastrophic flood.
Posted by WORLDMEETS.US
President Karzai also
welcomed Russian support to fight terrorism, with the two leaders meeting privately
to discuss the matter. Russia - which at one time was a major player in
Afghanistan, is actively seeking to regain its position, and may compete with
NATO in that regard. With the general expectation that the U.S. will leave
Afghanistan sooner rather than later - and without a military victory - Russia
must surely be looking to fill some of the vacuum, especially given its old
links to Afghanistan and its reassertion as a neighbor with legitimate
interests. For Pakistan, this summit and the interaction with the Russian
leadership may be significant if our leaders follow-up in a substantive manner
rather than just paying diplomatic lip service. After all, this would allow
Pakistan a foot in the door of cooperation with Russia, with whom India has
historically had close strategic ties. Pakistan must be cognizant of the threat
of a possible Indo-Russian-Afghan nexus after the U.S. withdraws.
Presidents Zardari and Karzai
also had a one-on-one meeting. But unfortunately for Pakistan, an anti-narcotic
agreement wasn't signed - which is being seen as a victory for Karzai, who opposes
such a deal. Nevertheless, the summit was a signal that a new power game will emerge
in Afghanistan and beyond - and that the United States and NATO will be
increasingly challenged, not only by their own failures in Afghanistan, but by
the resurgent ambitions of Russia. This is why it is imperative for Pakistan to
remove its Washington-focused blinkers before it is marginalized in its own
region.