At times when the Taliban are dreaming of toppling the government in Afghanistan and are carrying out terror attacks with more intensity than before, President Hamid Karzai has called them as powerless and dependent on the dictations of the foreigners. In a meeting with Ulema Council members at the Presidential Palace on Friday, the president said that the Taliban had erected their flag and displayed the Islamic Emirate plaque at their political office in Qatar at the behest of outsiders. A statement from his office quoted the president as saying the flag and the sign were removed under pressure from foreigners, suggesting the rebel group had lost its control.

Now that the Taliban are powerless and have no independence in their decisions, with whom is the Afghan government going to continue its purported peace talks? Indeed the statement from the Presidential Office bears an answer to this. President Karzai hopes his government would reach a deal with Pakistan and the United States before holding conclusive talks with the Taliban. In the belief of the President, the agreement would bring stability to Afghanistan and Pakistan. However, it is not clear from the statement what kind of deal is Karzai talking about?

President Hamid Karzai will be visiting Islamabad tomorrow. It will be his first visit to Pakistan after election Nawaz Sharif as the Prime Minister of that country. According to analysts, this tour is of great importance as the new democratic government of Pakistan under the premiership of Nawaz Sharif indirectly announced to develop better relationship with neighboring countries.

Kabul claim that Islamabad is not taking serious steps in fighting with terrorism rather circles within the political and security establishments are using Taliban in Afghan soil on the other hand seems to be angry over often border clashes where Afghan Locals and security officials frequently complaining about rocket attacks. While Islamabad whether rejected that shootings have not taken place or part of its combat against Taliban hideouts inside of Afghanistan.

Meanwhile both understand that they have a lot in common and none want to severe the ties.

By trying to depict a feeble picture of Taliban, Mr. President seems to be giving more importance to the role of Pakistani government in making the peace deal with Taliban possible. Political affairs’ pundits are of the view that the Taliban leadership might not be under the control of Pakistan but even then it can use its influence over them for the reason property, businesses and families of most of Taliban leadership exist in Pakistan. In addition to that traditional and historical relation can also be an instrument to use clout on them.

It is indeed pivotal for the Afghan government to gain the support from Pakistan, if it is to enter a peace deal with Taliban. If Taliban were powerless the Afghan government and its western backers would not think of negotiating with them ten years after their ouster from government. Taliban pose real threats to the future stability of Afghanistan, especially when most of the US-led NATO forces will be withdrawn from here. Therefore, the Karzai administration with support from Pakistan, which is considered a key player in this region, must go towards meaningful and inclusive talks with Taliban. Underestimating them would not be the solution and is only a self-deceiving perception.