THE HINDU Editorial Vocabulary - April 27, 2018 - Topic 2

Saving Afghanistan

Even before the Taliban announced its new “spring offensive”, violence in Afghanistan had escalated dangerously this year. According to the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, the number of casualties in the first three months of 2018 was already 2,258 (763 killed, 1,495 injured). Last year, the U.S. announced a new ‘South Asia policy’ for Afghanistan, which was officially welcomed by both New Delhi and Kabul and hailed as a game-changer for the region. Just eight months later, the policy itself seems uncertain. 

And although the U.S. administration has taken some steps on Pakistani funding of terrorism across the Durand Line, it has clearly not yielded calm on the ground, as wave upon wave of terrorist violence has lashed Kabul and other cities. Sunday’s bomb attack in Kabul at a voter registration centre, where more than 57 were killed, carried a doubly diabolical message from the Islamic State. Not only did the group attack Afghanistan’s fragile democratic process, making it clear that elections next year could face more violence, but a majority of the victims were Shias, highlighting the sectarian turn in the conflict. In addition, the statement from the Taliban rejecting Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s offer of talks “without preconditions” and calling for the targeting of American forces in Afghanistan as part of a “spring offensive” signals the security challenge. According to the U.S., Afghan forces control just a little over half the territory today, down from nearly three-fourths in 2015. There seems little to suggest then that the U.S. policies guiding Afghanistan, and Kabul’s efforts to protect its people, are making any headway. It is necessary for both to take a more hard-headed, realistic view of the road ahead.

There is a need to stop the ‘Great Game’ for influence in Afghanistan. Growing U.S.-Russia tensions are creating space for proxies for both on Afghan soil, and the attacks by al-Qaeda and IS-related terror groups have their roots in the larger war between Iran and the Arab world. Tensions between India and Pakistan cast a shadow over Afghanistan, with India’s development assistance under attack. In turn, driven by the desire to secure itself from Islamist groups, China is trying to build a rival military base in Afghanistan. Ironically, in the wake of 9/11 and the Taliban’s defeat in 2001, for a while all these countries were actually on the same page on helping Afghanistan. It is not as if efforts have not been made for bilateral and multilateral peace talks in recent months, but each one has amounted to too piecemeal an effort. Defeating terrorism in Afghanistan needs every stakeholder to put aside differences, and acknowledge that the current situation is a danger to all.

Vocabulary

Offensive: causing someone to feel deeply hurt, upset, or angry.

Example: The allegations made are deeply offensive to us

Synonyms: insulting, insolent, derogatory, disrespectful, hurtful, wounding

Assistance: the provision of money, resources, or information to help someone.

Example: Plans offering financial assistance to employers

Synonyms: help, aid, support, backing, reinforcement, succor, relief

Uncertain: not able to be relied on; not known or definite.

Example: An uncertain future

Synonyms: unknown, debatable, open to question, in doubt, undetermined

Diabolical: belonging to or so evil as to recall the Devil.

Example: His diabolical cunning

Synonyms: devilish, fiendish, satanic, demonic, demoniacal, hellish, infernal

Fragile: easily broken or damaged.

Example: Tourists also damage the fragile ecosystem by dumping plastic waste and driving over the grasslands.

Synonyms: breakable, easily broken, delicate, dainty, fine, flimsy

Suggest: put forward for consideration.

Example: I suggest that we wait a day or two

Synonyms: propose, put forward, recommend, advocate, advise

Realistic: having or showing a sensible and practical idea of what can be achieved or expected.

Example: Jobs are scarce at the moment, so you've got to be realistic

Synonyms: practical, pragmatic, matter-of-fact, down-to-earth, sensible

Desire: a strong feeling of wanting to have something or wishing for something to happen.

Example: A desire to work in the dirt with your bare hands

Synonyms: wish, want, aspiration, fancy, inclination, impulse, yearning, longing

Piecemeal: characterized by unsystematic partial measures taken over a period of time.

Example: The village is slowly being killed off by piecemeal development

Synonyms: a little at a time, piece by piece, bit by bit, gradually, slowly

Aside: the side of a pop single record regarded as the main release.

Example: The double A-side single Young Man is currently out on promo.

Acknowledge: accept or admit the existence or truth of.

Example: The plight of the refugees was acknowledged by the authorities

Synonyms: admit, accept, grant, allow, concede, accede to, confess