In 2010, Afghan government formally initiated the peace process and established High Peace Council in order to secure a deal with Taliban leadership. Then the main reason for this, as put forward by Afghan authorities, was: Conflict in Afghanistan must be resolved through table talks.
The international community backed the process both financially and politically. Nonetheless, four years later, the battle fields in Afghanistan are as hot as it used to be prior the peace process kicked off. It would not be irrational to say the Taliban have done well to benefit as much as they can from this very peace process for continuing their bloody resistance against the Afghan government and foreign troops deployed here.
One of the tactics used by Taliban to sabotage the peace process has been targeted killing of high-ranking HPC officials. Burhan-ud-Din Rabbani and MaulaviArsalaRahmani are among prominent figures of HPC who have been murdered over the last few years. Meanwhile, pro-peace Taliban leaders have also not been spared.
On Saturday, another HPC high-ranking official, Masoom Stanikzia was attacked by a suicide bomber in district #5 of Kabul. Although he was fortunate enough to escape the incident unhurt, one civilian was killed and three others were injured.
The incident is a reminder of the fact the fact that the Taliban recognize HPC as government entity. What they have time and again emphasized on is that peace talks cannot be started with the Afghan government which they consider toothless and a puppet.
Meanwhile, according to a Pakistani newspaper, President Hamid Karzai plans to send his top security adviser to Pakistan for follow-up discussions after meeting Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s special envoy in Kabul this week. National Security Adviser Rangeen Dadfar Spanta will lead the delegation which also included Masoom Stanikzai. According to some Afghan sources, the delegation could call for Islamabad’s active role in the peace process and seek the extradition of Afghan Taliban leaders who Kabul claims are living in Pakistan.
While such visits are important for both the countries, they will only be effective if practical measures are taken on both sides. Sincere cooperation between the two countries can lead the Afghan peace process to victory. If no true willingness is in place, the Taliban will not only refuse to talk peace but will also continue their targeted killing of HPC members and other terror attacks.