Historic Afghan peace talks fraught with uncertainty

Afghanistan's wealth of natural resources is both a curse and a blessing. A blessing to the country's 'elite' who'll profit greatly selling off resources to the foreign corporations paying the most.

A curse to the general population who'll continue to see foreign corporations battling to gain greater control of Afghanistan's resources.

The US may be pulling out some of its forces (nothing anyone in the Trump admin says can be believed. especially so close to an election), which though long overdue is still a positive. But US corporations, along with Russian, Chinese, Indian and those from European states and elsewhere will continue to see Afghanistan as just another state to be exploited.

Whether it is to be “a historic opportunity for peace that benefits all Afghans and contributes to regional stability and global security” or not, it would be too early to draw any conclusion. Based on past experience, one would not place much hope on this 'peace talk'. It could well be for show only..

PTownsend

Afghanistan's wealth of natural resources is both a curse and a blessing. A blessing to the country's 'elite' who'll profit greatly selling off resources to the foreign corporations paying the most.

Can you tell us what ressources those are and what is unusual about selling something to the highest bidder?

Curious.

Can you tell us what ressources those

Use Yandex for yourself to find info, or here's a start. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mining_in_Afghanistan

what is unusual about selling something to the highest bidder?

Nothing at all unusual. The UK, Russia and the US slaughtering Afghans for control of those resources is also, unfortunately, not unusual.

Personally I don't like seeing any of the big global powers exploiting other nations, regardless if they're the 'highest bidder'. I'm just not a fan of predatory capitalism, be it American, Russian, Chinese, Indian, European or anyone else. Predatory capitalism benefits the .01%, screws the rest.

Ptownsend

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mining_in_Afghanistan

MINING? The civil war in Afghanistan is about MINING? Good grief.

Nothing at all unusual. The UK, Russia and the US slaughtering Afghans for control of those resources is also, unfortunately, not unusual.

You do not need to "control" any ressources if you want to the things they mine, you just buy them. You never heard of trade?

MINING? The civil war in Afghanistan is about MINING? Good grief.

Under 'mining' find: petroleum and natural gas, rare earth minerals, uranium, etc. Again, check Yandex for more info. It's pretty easy to find what resources Afghanistan has and why world powers have been there.

you just buy them. You never heard of trade?

Once again I suggest using one of the online resources to learn more about the complexities of 'trade' and how in so many cases throughout history and even today that 'trade' has been done at the point of a gun. Sometimes even at the point of 'the mother of all bombs' like the one dropped in Trump's early days in office.

Ptownsend

Under 'mining' find: petroleum and natural gas, rare earth minerals, uranium, etc. Again, check Yandex for more info. It's pretty easy to find what resources Afghanistan has and why world powers have been there.

No, I that does not explain why "world powers" are "there". Try geopolitics, ideology, and law of unintended consequences instead.

The idea that one has to invade and occupy countries to get ressources is absurd.

The idea that one has to invade and occupy countries to get ressources is absurd.

I'm actually well aware that over the centuries 'global'/'world powers', whatever you want to call them, have used their military and commercial powers, including invading and occupying nations, to get and control resources.

Currently I oppose the US, Russian and Chinese involvements in foreign states. As well as the Turkish, Iranian and any other state's. I think conflicts may stem from 'ideological' differences, but even more from one state's desire to get control over another state's resources. And their shipments. Russia, which far rightists around the globe laud, are in Venezuela, plus Libya and other African nations because...

How is this a negotiation when we the US envoy caved into almost every demand by the Taliban and got almost no guarantees?

Trump told his negotiators, give the Taliban everything they want, but don't make it obvious. Praise the Taliban for how tough they are as negotiators. Just get us out of Afghanistan before our elections was the whole game for Trump. Another election ploy.

The Avenger

Trump told his negotiators, give the Taliban everything they want, but don't make it obvious. 

Unlike you, I do not know what "Trump told his negotiators". Would be nice if you share more of your insider information.

But I want to know what basis the Americans and NATO have to be there in the first place? The Taliban live there, foreign troops are illegal invaders. Please explain what the basis here is.... only "might makes right"?