Peace talks with Taliban seem to have entered a new episode. After much hype and no tangible result in the earlier episodes, it has to be seen whether this episode would have something other than hype and empty promises.
To start the new episode, a delegation of Afghan representatives held face to face talks with Taliban in Murree, a resort close to Islamabad, on Monday and Tuesday. Though not formally disclosed, it is believed that Afghan delegation included Hikmat Khalil Karzai – the political deputy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) and Haji Din Mohammad – a powerful tribal leader and the former governor of Nangarhar province and members of High Peace Council (HPC). According to a statement of Junbish e Milli Party spokesman Bashir Ahmad Tayanj, Faizullah Zaki also attended the talks for the First Vice President after consultation with National Unity Government leaders.
On the other hand, the Taliban representatives included Maulvi Jalil, Mullah Abbas Stanikzai and Qari Din Mohammad. Moreover, members of Haqqani Network were believed to have met Afghan representatives, as well. Pakistan hosted the talks while Chinese and US representatives played the role of observers.
These talks were important in a sense that it was first official meeting between Afghan government and Taliban representatives. Moreover, both the sides agreed to continue talks after Holy month of Ramadan as well. However, there are concerns regarding the fact that the talks were kept secret. It is really important for Afghan government to have a clear stance regarding such talks so that it does not require to hold them secretly and let the people of Afghanistan know about their true nature and outcomes.
In recent months there has been a kind of indication on the part of Taliban for negotiations. Earlier 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 few weeks earlier and then an Afghan delegation visited Oslo, Norway, where, it met Taliban peace envoys. The delegation was led by Haji Mohammad Mohaqiq, the Second Deputy of Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah and included 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. However, after the Oslo meeting Haji Mohammad Mohaqiq said that there were no changes in the stance of Taliban regarding peace talks with Afghan government.
Nevertheless, it is important to see what will be the outcome of the Murree meeting as Taliban have not openly accepted that they are willing to hold talks with Afghan government. Moreover, it is still ambiguous whether the Taliban delegations truly represent all Taliban who are fighting in Afghanistan. There are reports that no one from Taliban Doha office attended the meeting. 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 National Security Forces (ANSF) 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. They also rejected the call of Afghan Religious Scholars’ Council for a ceasefire during the holy month of Ramadan. Similarly, Afghan National Army (ANA) also 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.
Peace, as a matter of fact, is in the advantage of all the stakeholders; the only requirement is to realize this undeniable fact.