Shamim Shahid
Amidst fast global, especially regional level developments, the US President Donald Trump administration has demanded return of Afghanistan’s most vital Bagram Air Base. For the purpose, US administration says that from Bagram Air Base, it intends to counter what they called nuclear expansion of People’s Republic of China. Though turban-wearing Taliban leaders have rejected US demand so far but they (Taliban) are bound to keep in mind comments made with the US through well famous Doha Qatar Accord of February 29th 2020 last. One clause of this agreement is CLASSIFIED, which says Taliban are bound to honour US request or demand for making secure its interests in the region.
Similarly, besides others Qatar and Saudi Arabia are the guarteers of Doha Qatar Accord and it is impossible for the Emirate Islami to betray both the Arab States. Besides Pakistan, Saudi Arab and Qatar are amongst top of US led allies, backing sponsoring and financing turmoil first against former USSR and now against several regional and neighbouring countries from the soil of Afghanistan. The US made the announcement at the time when its two most trust-worthy allies Pakistan and Saudi Arab entered into a bilateral; defense treaty. So far debate on this treaty is in progress and almost analysts believes that this treaty meant countering Israel in the region.
No one can deny strategic importance’s of Bagram Air Base, situated in Parwan province in North of Kabul. Parwan is considered gateway to Kabul from Northern side of Afghanistan. Bagram had played a pivotal role in USSR backed Saur Revolution and had made capable almost of its patronized regimes right from Noor Muhammad Taraki till Dr. Najib Ullah of defending Kabul till last moment. Similarly the US lead allied troops after landing in Bagram air base with help of BM 52 bombardment, Taliban now governing Afghanistan, have been kept away from Kabul for a long period. Now if the US succeeded in materializing its decision of getting back occupation of Bagram air base, it could cause wide range politico-strategic changes in the region.
One of credible analyst from Gulf region Ahmad Khuzaie when requested to comment on Pak KSA bilateral defense agreement sais, “The Saudi–Pakistan defense pact is more than a bilateral agreement—it is a strategic earthquake. It redefines deterrence in the Gulf, complicates India’s regional ambitions, and sends a clear signal to Israel and Iran that Riyadh is no longer a passive actor. For Pakistan, the treaty elevates its strategic relevance beyond South Asia, embedding it firmly in Gulf security calculus. For Saudi Arabia, it marks a bold departure from hedging to hard alignment. And for the region, it inaugurates a new era of formalized alliances, nuclear ambiguity, and intensified rivalries. On one hand, it touches the Pakistani-Indian ongoing issue, putting Pakistan ahead; on the other hand the Gulf’s security, Iran wise and Israel wise. The Middle East has entered a new chapter—one where defense treaties are not just declarations, but instruments of strategic transformation.”
But some others believes that US in reaction has announced coming back to Afghanistan and getting back control of strategically important Bagram air base. Similarly, in according to bilateral defense treaty, Pakistan is made bound to follow Saudi Arab in its strategic, politico diplomatic strategies in the region. Question arises what will be Pakistan stance if Saudi Arabia go ahead with strengthening of its friendship with Israel. So far Saudi Arabia has neighther denounced Jewish aggression against Palestinian nor withdrawn its previous decision of allowing Israel on its soil for business and trade activities. A large number of Jewish companies are now engaged in trade and business activities throughout the Gulf Regions.
Though the US is justifying this decision in the wake of what it call over coming nuclear proliferation of China but Bagram is much more close to Pakistan compare to China. In the wake of US decision fir getting back occupation of Bagram airbase and Pak-KSA bilateral agreement, one can easily reconfirm that CHESS play is continue on the soil of already war devastated Afghanistan. Prior to well famous Doha Qatar Accord, the US had tabled similar text of a bilateral agreement before former President Hamid Karzai but he had refused to comply. Whatever might be claims and justifications on the part of Taliban No one can deny the fact after re-empowering, the Taliban fighters feeling them independent in almost of their internal and external policies. They didn’t considering them as dependent instructions and patronization of Pakistan state organs and on the other some of its top brasses intends to get rid of commitments made with US through Doha Qatar Accord.
It seems hard for the US to keep up its geo-strategic interests at this crucial stage when China and several others are making its best for establishing its strategic and economic influence in the almost Asian region. So far US initiated redeployment in Bangladesh, which might be a lesson for almost Islamic countries especially Pakistan which is still jubilating collapse of Hasina Wajid regime.
