Expectations are getting stronger that peace talks with Taliban would bear fruit. Recently, there have been some developments in this regard and Taliban have been participating in some meetings, showing their willingness to talk, or at least this has been portrayed.
Taliban delegation participated in a meeting that was organized in Pugwash, Qatar and, afterwards, had a meeting with High Peace Council (HPC) in China. They also had an important meeting with Afghan women delegation in Norway, which was vital in a sense that they, at least, agreed to talk to women delegation. Taliban during their reign did not allow women to participate in political affairs and did not appreciate law to safeguard their rights as per the international requirements. One of the most important discussions, if the peace process proceeds, would be the rights of women as there is a huge distinction between what the present Afghan constitutions states about their rights and what Taliban believe they should be.
A Taliban delegation also met Afghan officials in Dubai a couple of weeks earlier and now an Afghan delegation is at Oslo, Norway, where, it is said they are to meet Taliban peace envoys. This delegation is led by Haji Mohammad Mohaqiq, the Second Deputy of Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah and includes Deputy Foreign Minister Hikmat Khalil Karzai, former speaker of parliament Mohammad Younas Qanooni, former minister of women's affairs Husn Bano Ghazanfar, former minister of commerce Anwarulhaq Ahadi and a member of the High Peace Council (HPC), Farhadullah Farhad.
According to a statement by Ahmad Shekib Mustaghni, spokesman for Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), “Part of the meeting will focus on the restoration of peace in Afghanistan… Our information indicates that a delegation including the Taliban’s top leaders will attend the talks.”
It is important to see what will be the outcome of this meeting as Taliban have not openly accepted that their delegation will meet the Afghan government delegation though they have agreed that their delegation is at the conference. Moreover, there does not seem to be a comprehensive strategy regarding the talks or such a strategy has not been disclosed at least. The talks seem to be isolated from one another and do not seem to be a continuation of a fruitful process.
Moreover, it is still ambiguous whether the Taliban delegations truly represent all Taliban who are fighting in Afghanistan. Taliban do not seem to have a unity of command and control; there are different factions of them operating under different leaderships. Therefore, it is difficult to conclude whether the Taliban representatives meeting Afghan government delegations really represent Taliban and their words and promises truly represent the minds and the hearts of the ones who are in direct fight with Afghan forces.
Taliban have not shown any willingness to call off their fight and currently they have continued their Spring Offensive and are in violent clashes with Afghan security forces in different parts of the country. They have intensified their attacks in the northern and western parts of the country and few districts have, in fact, come under their control. Currently, they have rejected the call of Afghan Religious Scholars’ Council for a ceasefire during the holy month of Ramadan. Similarly, Afghan National Army (ANA) has reportedly terminated reinstatements on the use of artillery against insurgents. As Taliban are literally in a war with Afghan security forces with no evident willingness to end it, it is difficult to see the dreams of peace coming true; or as some of the analysts believe this intensification in war may be a tactic by Taliban to earn a good bargain in talks. However, no peace negotiation would ever be successful unless there is a willingness and practical measures for a ceasefire.
Another important factor that will play a key role in the peace negotiations is the intention. Negotiations can only be successful provided that the intentions of the involved parties are clear and true. If Afghan authorities, Taliban leadership and the regional countries, particularly the neighboring countries show honest commitments, there is every possibility that Afghanistan would see the sun of peace and tranquility brightening its every corner. On the other hand, if all the stakeholders have ill-intentions of gaining only strength and self-centered benefits, it is really difficult to restore peace in the country. As Afghan MP Shukria Barakzai has mentioned, "If there is a firm commitment on the two sides and both sides are committed to the prosperity of the Afghan nation, in that case, we can have purposeful talks. But if these meetings are only to kill time, then the task will be hard to achieve, despite that we know all are tired of the war.” Similarly, former Taliban commander Syed Akbar Agha is reported to have said, "If consultations and meetings between the government of Afghanistan and the Taliban are conducted on a regular basis, it would bear positive outcomes on the issues facing Afghanistan."
Peace, as a matter of fact, is in the advantage of all the stakeholders; the only requirement is to realize this undeniable fact.