Afghans have been longing eternal peace for decades. After years of infightings that have claimed awful toll, most Afghans appear to be supportive of a peace process. Formerly, a poll conducted by State Department confirmed this stance. The poll found that 66 percent of Afghans would be acquiescent to amnesty for insurgents if it paved the way for a peace deal. The newly installed government in Kabul affirms security the top most precedence. Nonetheless, the peace dream of Afghans can’t materialize; given multiple factors hinder the way to this triumph. The in-depth trust deficit found between disgruntled factions, served a dominant factor restraining this settlement. Taliban never considered Kabul government to be the sole authority whom should be talked with to chart out the future course of action.
Purposeful negotiations render the sole political solution to put an end to this predicament, pleading a trustworthy guarantor. Pakistan can play a significant role, narrowing down the understanding gap by mediating talks between the two factions; government and Taliban. Reportedly, Pakistan enjoys good ties with Afghan Taliban, who disbanded their ties with Pakistani faction of Taliban.
Formerly, the spokesman of Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed a knot between Afghan government and Taliban negotiating to arrive at a common strategy to end the conflict. He added the government was ready to sit across negotiating table with the militants who were interested in a political solution to the problem, respect for the country’s constitution and preservation of the achievements made since 2001; else the government would continue to pursue military action against its armed opponents, who opposed peace parley, till they were completely vanquished.
The development to achieve the former goal is hastened, with China coming forth to mediate the peace talks. Previously newly-elected Afghan President Ashraf Ghani paid a four-day official trip to China. The Afghan president, while addressing the ‘Heart of Asia Ministerial Conference’ in Beijing, termed China as the key country which can help restore peace in Afghanistan and urged the Taliban to take part in the intra-Afghan dialogues. Since then China demonstrates in-depth interest in pushing forth the Afghan peace process after US president’s announcement of ending the war in Afghanistan. China is eager to fill up the security vacuum subsequent to US’s partial or complete draw down. Significantly, what draws China close to Afghanistan is its deep lying interest in the aforesaid country. China, the most developed country in Asia with heavy investments in Afghanistan wants its investments secured. To reach its objectives, it has to build friendly ties with conflicting factions in Afghanistan. To streamline this ground making development, Pakistan’s imperative role can’t be ruled out. Pakistan’s vital interests are buried deep in the heart of this piece of land. Pakistan can’t withstand troubled western border. Consequently, Pakistan plays foundational part in making all the development crystallize. She brings forth China, considered to be the true friend of Pakistan, provided China makes multiple investments in the soil of Pakistan, too. With exception to China many other countries too played a role to bring about the talks. Earlier, the Taliban delegations from its Qatar office also visited Japan, France and Iran in the past.
Previously, a report confirmed, China facilitated talks between the insurgent group and the Afghan government, given the delegation representing Taliban included Qari Din Mohammad Hanif, a minister of planning in the Taliban regime. It further said that Beijing had informed Afghan officials about the details of the ongoing talks. A senior Afghan official familiar with the matter told The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) the Taliban representatives presented negotiation positions, including amending the Afghan constitution, giving them control of government ministries and removing them from international sanctions list.
The aforesaid report strengthens the credibility of the former report that stated the Government of National Unity has offered posts to senior former Taliban leaders in the new cabinet which has not been formally announced. The source was very close accomplice to President Ashraf Ghani who told the international newspaper that Taliban leaders who were considered in the new government are Mullah Zaeef, the former Taliban ambassador to Pakistan, Wakil Muttawakil, the former Taliban foreign minister, and Ghairat Baheer, a close relative of Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, whose forces are allied to the Taliban. It is said that the Government of National Unity has considered offering posts of the Ministry of Rural Affairs, the borders and Hajj and Religious Affairs, besides appointing Taliban governors to three southern provinces – Nimruz, Kandahar and Helmand. It’s a good omen that broad based reconciliation between Afghan government and Taliban could turn the “peace” dream of ordinary masses of this piece of land true.
Reconciliation leading to installment of peace is the ultimate necessity every Afghan has been longing for over decades. In order to look at the feasibility of restoration of the stalled peace process, and its durability we have to consider some ground realities in consideration. Taliban and Afghan government have been in state of war for over decade that have resulted in devastative causalities and irreparable harms to war torn country.
Putting a glance at the political outlook of Afghanistan, chaotic state of delusion is reflected. The incumbent government tries to push for peace talks whilst insurgents resorted to parallel bloodletting must be kept in consideration. Kabul witnessed several explosions and suicide attacks in the wake of winter security setbacks that have worried many as the foreign troops continue to pack up ahead of the deadline of withdrawal.
We are peace seekers. We negotiate peace, even with the assassins of humanity, peace and tranquility. This very stance is stressed by both head of government and political leadership of Afghanistan with variant degree of assertion. Awfully peace is talked to those who have killed over hundred thousands of innocents and physically impaired even a multiplied number since the beginning of war launched against terror. The extremists’ pretend to respect negotiations but they have no respect for sanctity of humanity and peace and strongly believe in division of human being of variant grounds, be that ethnic, sectarian and religious. There are hundreds of such clues that manifest the persecution of guiltless civilians at the hands of Taliban.
Even if talks were to be used as a last resort to install peace then some serious breakthrough must have worked out that could soothe the insurgents to an agreeable demand prior to sitting. The most significant are the demonstration of shift instilled in Taliban’s resolve to disband militancy, dissociate Al-Qaida and surrender to constitution of the country. This move practically is unachievable given that Taliban deem to having upper hand in the fight, never surrender to government’s demands instead dreams of ousting Kabul government.