Pipeline proposals brought the Taliban to power first time round – could the same be true again now?
Pipeline proposals brought the Taliban to power first time round – could the same be true again now?
By Kit Klarenberg, an investigative journalist exploring the role of intelligence services in shaping politics and perceptions. Follow him on Twitter @KitKlarenberg
Contrary to official claims the last US soldier has left Afghanistan, it’s been reported that a “diehard” team of elite British and American troops are to remain in the country to “avenge the deaths” of those killed at Kabul airport in a suicide bombing by ISIS-K.
The joint party – which includes the SAS and the Navy Seals – may seek to construct a base in the “lawless” Afghan-Pakistan border area to conduct stealth strikes against the terror faction, and will be supported by US drones. Of course, this effort will require the Taliban’s approval – but defence sources say this is “likely to be given.” Even more extraordinarily, the possibility of the taskforce working alongside the returned rulers of Afghanistan has not been ruled out.
While seismically shifting alliances are nothing new for London or Washington, the speed and totality of this volte face is truly unprecedented. Nonetheless, the rationale for the resounding reversal – and indeed the total withdrawal of coalition forces, despite defense chiefs having long known the illegitimate and unpopular Western-backed government would immediately collapse as a result – may be straightforward.
In March, the Taliban were surprise guests of honor at a US-brokered meeting in Ashgabat, between representatives of Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India – the four participating members of the long-awaited TAPI pipeline. The group assured attendees that they weren’t merely committed to not attacking the project’s infrastructure, but would actively ensure its safety and that of any and all other “developmental projects” in the country……”
