Living in peace and security is the basic right of all human beings and absence of peace is felt more in Afghanistan that has been burning on fire over the last three decades. Today is the International Peace Day which occurs annually on September 21st. The day is marked by many nations across the world including Afghanistan. Peace day gains little attention in Afghanistan a country that has been in dire need of peace. At times when Afghanistan is suffering the worst consequences of decades of war, the international peace day holds significant importance for this country.
Today, Afghans are in urgent need of peace. In fact, they are the people who know the real meaning and importance of peace as they have been suffering war in its worst forms.
In order to bring peace to Afghanistan, the Karzai administration launched the so-called peace reconciliation process in the beginning of 2010. In the same year the High Peace Council (HPC) was formed. The main purpose of the council is finding out ways of negotiation with Taliban in order to put an end to the Afghan war through peaceful means. Nonetheless, HPC has no laudable achievement at hand. Ithas had more loss than achievement.
Former President of Afghanistan, Burhan–ud-Din Rabbani appointed as chairman of the HPC was assassinated a day before the annual International Peace Day - on September 20, 2011 - in his own home by a suicide bomber disguised as messenger of Taliban. The next year Maulvi Arsala Rahmani one of the key members of HPC was shot dead in broad daylight near his home in Kabul. The targeted killing of HPC members has continued. Knowing that the HPC members are not safe, one can ask: how they could promote their organization’s objectives amid fear of being killed in hands of the people who they want to launch negotiations with?
After about four years, it is still not clear where the peace process is heading and whether a peace deal with Taliban can be reached. Will the Taliban continue to fight or get involved in peace negotiations to put an end to their years-long resistance against the Afghan government? From what currently prevails in Afghanistan, it can be said that they will bolster their insurgency in the months and years to come. Since 2001, with every year ending in Afghanistan the figures of civilian and military deaths make a record increase. Every year is bloodier than its preceding one for Afghanistan.
Will peace come to the life of Afghans one day? Although that is what Afghans ask themselves and each other every day, on the International Peace Day they feel more eager to know the answer of this question. No one, however, can give a clear answer to this question.