Arwin Rahi argues in a recent post on The Diplomat that a multinational regional security force (MN-RSF) will not work in Afghanistan. Arwin goes on to discount all the neighbouring countries like Pakistan, Iran, and others purely on the basis of mirror-imaging assumptions. A suggested Bilateral Security Agreement hardly adds anything new to what already exists in Afghanistan. No matter what the existing differences are, neighbours need to have a stake in any process that explores viable options in Afghanistan in the interest of the sanctity of and peace across their borders.

On the contrary, a well structured MN-RSF will actually inculcate a sense of security among all the stakeholders. A well structured MN-RSF could consist of elements not only from neighbouring countries but NATO countries too. The leadership of a multinational force is supposed to be in the hands of Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF). This is where the actual problem lies. ANSF has never been trained to lead; just the boots on the ground. Whether it is NATO today or an MN-RSF tomorrow, it has to be led by ANSF. Unless ANSF passes the test of leadership mettle overcoming all the lingering questions; sustainable peace is unlikely to be achieved in Afghanistan anytime soon.