By Ranjit Kumar
While reading the nerve wrenching account of the dreaded atmosphere in Kabul in Nayanima Basu’s book “THE FALL OF KABUL”, during last days of the Ashraf Ghani regime in August 2021, I was reminded of my own week-long visit to Afghanistan in 2005, when there was hope and excitement in the air of Kabul, especially among youth who were experiencing a new dawn in their life. I could safely walk alone on the streets of Kabul and Kandahar as
an Indian, where Pakistanis were the most despised , hence they also introduced themselves as Indian. India got involved in the reconstruction of Afghanistan building schools, hospitals, dams, roads etc. But self defeating policies of US administration squandered all the gains and it’s forces had to make a shameful overnight departure almost two decades later.
Also Read Bumps on the road: New BoT terms for highway construction may throw pvt investors into risk-aversion mode Friends in need: India and South Korea are strengthening ties as geopolitical insecurity grows in the Indo-Pacific Essentials for an effective AI mould for India Ringside view by Tushar Bhaduri: Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya getting booed at home shows IPL fans want their voice heard Nayanima Basu has penned a heart-breaking description of the last ten days before the fall of the so-called democratic regime of Ashraf Ghani and the re-installation of Taliban extremists in the Kabul Presidential palace Arg. Nayanima had to wriggle herself out of the Talibani jaws of death.
The rise, fall and rise of Taliban in Afghanistan from the late 20th to early 21st century depicts the story of grit and determination of Afghans, who first fought the Soviets to ascend to power and then lost it because of the Pakistani machinations, who encouraged Talibans to give shelter and nurture the Al Qaida headed by Saudi origin terrorist Osama Bin Laden. Had Osama not committed the blunder of most daring attack on New York and Washington on 11th September 2001, the Americans would not have rained long range Tomahawk missiles on the Al Qaida hideouts in Kabul and other cities. As a result, the Taliban and Al Qaida leaders had to escape to Pakistan, from where the Taliban regrouped and fought back with the patronage of Pakistani ISI, though it took little more than two decades.
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The Talibans had used the Pakistanis to dethrone the Soviet installed Mohammad Najibullah regime and again they used Pakistanis to force the Americans and other NATO forces to leave the war torn country without bag and baggage. The Soviets had to face most humiliating moment in it’s history when Soviet installed President Najibullah was hanged from a lamppost in 1996. Similarly the American forces had to shamefully escape from the country overnight leaving behind all the weapons and even the personal belongings, to save themselves from the same fate met by Najibullah.
The month of August in 2021 in Kabul and other cities presented this most dreadful picture. The returning body bags forced the US leadership to decide to abdicate the Kabul fort and it’s proxy Ashraf Ghani flew away reportedly with boxes full of US dollars after learning that Taliban forces are on the outskirts of Kabul. Though Ashraf Ghani saved himself from the ignominy of being hanged from the lamppost, the US forces could not save itself from presenting most terrible and disgraceful spectacle of leaving the country overnight.
There was total chaos not only on the Bagram airport but also on the streets of Kabul and Kandahar. Almost ten days before US withdrawal, Indian journalist Nayanima Basu dared and fought all odds to reach and report from Kabul, risking her life. Through her despatches the world came to know the actual scene on the streets of Kabul. Her first hand report from Kabul was an eye opener to diplomatic community not only in India but world over.
In her just released book, THE FALL OF KABUL, published by Bloomsbury, Nayanima Basu has presented vivid picture of the most shameful withdrawal of the US forces from Kabul and the kind of social and administrative anarchy that prevailed on the streets of the capital and other cities of Afghanistan in the middle of August 2021.
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During my visit to Kabul and Kandahar in 2005, as an Indian I commanded great respect from the ordinary Afghans and officials who openly showed abhorrence to Pakistanis. But Nayanima had to tactfully deal with the Talibanis who then considered India as an enemy, to meet some of the top leaders of banned and UN designated terrorist outfit. Nayanima was once on the verge of losing her life. But she very smartly managed her way to safety and found ways to file her despatches. Her book gives an interesting account of her travails. A must-read book for all diplomatic journalists, academics, and students of history especially interested in Afghanistan and also how US wasted billions of dollars and hundreds of its soldiers in the killing fields of the war-torn nation. The war against terrorism successfully fought by the US forces on the ground was lost by the US leadership on the table.
The author is a senior journalist and strategic affairs analyst.
Disclaimer: Views expressed are personal and do not reflect the official position or policy of Financial Express Online. Reproducing this content without permission is prohibited.
By Ranjit Kumar
While reading the nerve wrenching account of the dreaded atmosphere in Kabul in Nayanima Basu’s book “THE FALL OF KABUL”, during last days of the Ashraf Ghani regime in August 2021, I was reminded of my own week-long visit to Afghanistan in 2005, when there was hope and excitement in the air of Kabul, especially among youth who were experiencing a new dawn in their life. I could safely walk alone on the streets of Kabul and Kandahar as
an Indian, where Pakistanis were the most despised , hence they also introduced themselves as Indian. India got involved in the reconstruction of Afghanistan building schools, hospitals, dams, roads etc. But self defeating policies of US administration squandered all the gains and it’s forces had to make a shameful overnight departure almost two decades later.
Nayanima Basu has penned a heart-breaking description of the last ten days before the fall of the so-called democratic regime of Ashraf Ghani and the re-installation of Taliban extremists in the Kabul Presidential palace Arg. Nayanima had to wriggle herself out of the Talibani jaws of death.
The rise, fall and rise of Taliban in Afghanistan from the late 20th to early 21st century depicts the story of grit and determination of Afghans, who first fought the Soviets to ascend to power and then lost it because of the Pakistani machinations, who encouraged Talibans to give shelter and nurture the Al Qaida headed by Saudi origin terrorist Osama Bin Laden. Had Osama not committed the blunder of most daring attack on New York and Washington on 11th September 2001, the Americans would not have rained long range Tomahawk missiles on the Al Qaida hideouts in Kabul and other cities. As a result, the Taliban and Al Qaida leaders had to escape to Pakistan, from where the Taliban regrouped and fought back with the patronage of Pakistani ISI, though it took little more than two decades.
The Talibans had used the Pakistanis to dethrone the Soviet installed Mohammad Najibullah regime and again they used Pakistanis to force the Americans and other NATO forces to leave the war torn country without bag and baggage. The Soviets had to face most humiliating moment in it’s history when Soviet installed President Najibullah was hanged from a lamppost in 1996. Similarly the American forces had to shamefully escape from the country overnight leaving behind all the weapons and even the personal belongings, to save themselves from the same fate met by Najibullah.
The month of August in 2021 in Kabul and other cities presented this most dreadful picture. The returning body bags forced the US leadership to decide to abdicate the Kabul fort and it’s proxy Ashraf Ghani flew away reportedly with boxes full of US dollars after learning that Taliban forces are on the outskirts of Kabul. Though Ashraf Ghani saved himself from the ignominy of being hanged from the lamppost, the US forces could not save itself from presenting most terrible and disgraceful spectacle of leaving the country overnight.
There was total chaos not only on the Bagram airport but also on the streets of Kabul and Kandahar. Almost ten days before US withdrawal, Indian journalist Nayanima Basu dared and fought all odds to reach and report from Kabul, risking her life. Through her despatches the world came to know the actual scene on the streets of Kabul. Her first hand report from Kabul was an eye opener to diplomatic community not only in India but world over.
In her just released book, THE FALL OF KABUL, published by Bloomsbury, Nayanima Basu has presented vivid picture of the most shameful withdrawal of the US forces from Kabul and the kind of social and administrative anarchy that prevailed on the streets of the capital and other cities of Afghanistan in the middle of August 2021.
During my visit to Kabul and Kandahar in 2005, as an Indian I commanded great respect from the ordinary Afghans and officials who openly showed abhorrence to Pakistanis. But Nayanima had to tactfully deal with the Talibanis who then considered India as an enemy, to meet some of the top leaders of banned and UN designated terrorist outfit. Nayanima was once on the verge of losing her life. But she very smartly managed her way to safety and found ways to file her despatches. Her book gives an interesting account of her travails. A must-read book for all diplomatic journalists, academics, and students of history especially interested in Afghanistan and also how US wasted billions of dollars and hundreds of its soldiers in the killing fields of the war-torn nation. The war against terrorism successfully fought by the US forces on the ground was lost by the US leadership on the table.
The author is a senior journalist and strategic affairs analyst.
Disclaimer: Views expressed are personal and do not reflect the official position or policy of Financial Express Online. Reproducing this content without permission is prohibited.
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