Editor in Chief: Moh. Reza Huwaida Thursday, March 28th, 2024

Transparency is the Only Solution in Reconciliation

Today is the third day of national mourning for Professor Burhanuddin Rabbani, the head of High Peace Council, who was killed by a disguised Taliban negotiator in his home on Tuesday last week. The disguised representative of Quetta Shura had asked for an appointment to meet the top peace negotiator to present him the peace message of Taliban and Quetta Shura.

But the emissary carried explosives in his turban instead of peace message. He killed the chairman of High Peace Council instead of bridging armed opposition with Afghan government and people.

Since some prominent members of High Peace Council took the so-called Taliban envoy to Professor Rabbani's home and president Karzai had called, even if they did not have any clue and knowledge of the imposter's ill-intention and malicious mission, it has created an environment of suspicion and distrust between the government and High Peace Council on one hand and Rabbani's supporters on the other.

On Friday, September 23, 2011, the situation turned chaotic and rowdy when Rabbani's angry supporters and mourners chanted "Death to America, Death to Pakistan and Death to Karzai" during his burial.

Key opposition leaders Dr. Abdullah Abdullah and Amrullah Saleh strongly and harshly criticized the government for the flawed reconciliation process with Taliban, whom they call as enemy.

Amid anti-government slogans, Abdullah said: "Karzai must tell the people who the killer of Rabbani is?" In addition, the former chief of National Directorate of Security said: "The present system does not represent us. The incumbent government is not authorized to negotiate peace with the enemy.

Long live our people's national resistance!" Rabbani's death has widened the gap and it could have a very negative impact on the overall situation of fragile security in the country as well as on the effort for the reconciliation with the Taliban and other insurgent groups.

There are many other influential people sitting on the Peace Council and they would also be afraid of their lives if they continue to honestly work for peace. So the only solution is that the government must make the process more transparent so that ordinary Afghans also know how the process is moved forward.

In the meanwhile, the government must not talk to anyone who identifies themselves as Taliban representatives. No more carelessness and recklessness. It is time for openness and transparency.