Afghanistan Alternatives

One thing that has bothered me about US pulling out of Afghanistan quickly, is what would be the mess (for Afghanistan and at least Pakistan, to say nothing of women in Afghanistan) if US were to quickly leave.

I just read the first article that makes sense to me of an alternative future for Afghanistan.   Written by Selig Harrison as an opinion piece in the Nation.   He proposes that there is interest in neighboring countries, Russia, Iran, India, China,  Tajikistan in finding a political outcome in Afghanistan that would leave the nation neutral (as it had been for many years,) with the Taliban a player, but not the dominant one.   Such an outcome could be pressed by a United Nations diplomatic initiative or even a regional one lead by these neighbors.   Each has its own interest in this outcome, whether political re: their own Muslim fundamentalists,  or part of the Sunni Shiite Muslim division.  .Iran and India are already giving major economic aid to Afghanistan and China has expressed intentions to do the same.

  Key would be an aspect which has been little discussed.   The US would have to give up several large regional military bases in Afghanistan.   The absence of US presence as a foil against which the Taliban can push could make this possible.   Of course the US military is opposed to that.    Pakistan could also pose problems to such a solution.  

Well, at least there seems to be something like a less worst solution possible.