Author: Barnett R. Rubin
Affiliation: Center on International Cooperation at New York University
Organization/Publisher: Journal of International Relations and Sustainable Development
Date/Place: March 2020/ New York, USA
Type of Literature: Opinion
Number of Pages: 8
Link:https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/48573755.pdf?refreqid=excelsior%3A5fb5ade7c39261ce49de55c4b3c84559
Keywords: Afghanistan, U.S., COVID-19, Economy, Power-Sharing, Peace Negotiation, Taliban.
Brief:
Barnett Rubin, the author of a recently published book Afghanistan: What Everyone Needs to Know, compares the ongoing COVID-19 economic crisis in the shadow of the current fragile peace negotiation process with the Soviets’ defeat in Afghanistan. He argues that the 1989 Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan was not the only factor behind Najibullah’s defeat, but that the foreign aid flow seizure from the Soviets had caused the ex-communist government’s failure. Considering the current Kabul government’s alarming dependence on foreign aid, for the US not to follow the Soviet pattern needs apt planning with strong leadership. Since the US economy is being affected by the pandemic, a cut in foreign aid or military support would eventually follow with the collapse of the government. The author concludes his remarks by emphasizing the vital importance of peace negotiations for the United States and to keep Russia and other regional actors/power competition away.
By: Abdullah Jurat, CIGA Senior Research Associate