UNS — The Professor in Middle East Studies Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta, Prof. Istadiyantha, stated that the Taliban’s success in controlling most Afghanistan regions, including the capital, Kabul, does not affect Indonesia. This observation was delivered in an FGD held by Doktor Muslim Peduli Bangsa on “The Future of Islam World: Political Upheaval After Taliban’s VIctory” through the Zoom Cloud Meeting on Saturday (4/9/2021).
“In Indonesia, it’s not the time, or there is no time to affect Indonesia. And ex-Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) leader, Abu Tholut, stated that the Taliban’s victory in Afghanistan does not affect the political situation in Indonesia,” Prof. Istadiyantha said.
He stated that the Taliban’s success in controlling the majority of Afghanistan’s regions should be viewed from geopolitical and geostrategic perspectives. From the geopolitical perspective, Prof. Istadiyantha mentioned that the Taliban’s success could become a political policy by using the geographical position as a basis to control life space in guaranteeing life in the country. While in geostrategic view, a national strategy that considers geographical condition and constellation as the key factors is needed.
“Afghanistan issue is inseparable from the geopolitical and geostrategic issues. The people are not euphoric because they are happy (for the victory) of the Taliban over Afghanistan, but politically for Russia, China, Pakistan, and Iran,” Prof. Istadiyantha explained.
The Middle East Sociology teacher at the Arabic Language and Literature Faculty of Cultural Studies (FIB) UNS also explained that Russia, China, Pakistan, and Iran’s support of the Taliban is generally based on their dislike of the US. With the withdrawal of US soldiers from Afghanistan no later than 31 August 2021, the Taliban’s spirit to drove away Mujahidin from the Afghanistan government is getting stronger. The Professor even said that Mujahidin has a weak ideology under the US.
“In 1996, Taliban was in power; in 2001, the Taliban’s power was destroyed by the US, and the Mujahidin was placed as the government of Afghanistan. While in 1989, Osama, Mujahidin, and US worked together to fight the Soviet Union,” he added.
To the FGD participants, Prof. Istadiyantha mentioned that normative rationality needs to be strengthened in Indonesia to prevent the negative impact of Taliban’s success by appreciating Islamic boarding school management that put forward sunnah innovative learning, moral education, and through majelis taklim, Al-Qur’an school, and other institutions. “Donors and religious leaders should put their attention on the nation’s moral education through formal and non-formal tracks,” he added.
Prof. Istadiyantha added that Muslims in Indonesia should react to the Industry Revolution 5.0 by putting forward their humanism values by upholding the rule of law, a humanism that leads to high morality akhlaqul karimah, and rahmatan lil-’aalamiin Amanah.
“Indonesia is actually powerful as long as we do not intensify small problems into hostility. I am sure that Taliban case will not come and occur in Indonesia and as long as Indonesia upholds their unity and do not perform injustice and harass religion because it is highly sensitive,” he concluded. Humas UNS
Reporter: Yefta Christopherus AS
Editor: Dwi Hastuti