Peace continues to remain a longing in Afghanistan. There are efforts going on by different political groups and civil society organizations to achieve peace in Afghanistan. Unfortunately, the prospect of peace has, thus far, been bleak and efforts made have not produced any tangible results. Afghan government led by President Hamid Karzai is pursuing the overly appeasing plan of reintegration and reconciliation with Taliban and other insurgent outfits. Based on President Karzai's bid, the Taliban are the unhappy brothers that have to be appeased by hook or by crook.

On Wednesday and Thursday last week, representatives of different political groups of Afghanistan met in Paris to explore ways to bring peace to the country. French Strategic Researches Foundation hosted the meeting and invited representatives from Afghanistan National Front, Afghan government, the Taliban, National Coalition, Hezb-e-IslamiHekmatyar and civil society organizations to present their plans for the way out of the current crises. The participants laid stress on continuation of the talks and bringing changes to the political system and structure of the country.

Peace is roughly defined as "freedom from civil disorder." But in a broader term, peace requires the existence of a healthy environment for all the individual and group potentials to realize without any restriction, as well as the establishment of equality.

Afghanistan has been through years of civil disorder, which is rooted in absence of a healthy environment, effective political system to accommodate the diverse interests of the country's different identity groups. This civil disorder is also rooted in the lack of equality. There are groups that wish to impose their ideology on others. There are groups that wish to dominate other identity groups. There are groups that wish to think that power is their own possession and has to remain with them.

Decades of civil war, political violence, and interference in Afghanistan's internal affairs have rendered Afghanistan vulnerable and led to a broken trust. In order to restore that trust, there is a need to devolve power and reform the political structure to provide everyone with a share in power. To enhance Afghanistan's long-term democracy, prosperity, and security, such a reform is crucial.

This may go against the gains of those circles that wish to continue to monopolize power and dominate others but it is sine qua non to peace and stability.