If the Taliban leadership declared ceasefire and reduced violence, neither of the warring sides would sustain the heavy casualties. The escalated violence inflicted heavy casualties on the people, including combatants and non-combatants alike. Meanwhile, it put mental effect on the people, who made sacrifices for the last couple of decades to have their rights and freedom protected.
The recent political upheaval has disappointed the people of Afghanistan. The US-Taliban peace agreement paved the ground for the Taliban’s return. The US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad is said to have struck secret annexes with the Taliban.
The sacrifices of the people within the last two decades for the establishment of the republic system and protection of their fundamental rights and freedoms seem to have been in vain. The narrative of women’s rights and human rights in political meetings and conference as well as media has been no more than an empty slogan. Apparently, Khalilzad gambled all the achievements and compromised all the gains made in the two decades simply for the US troop withdrawal. He played with the destiny of a nation and country. In the history of Afghanistan, Khalilzad, who is a chauvinist Pashtun, will be treated as a pariah.
It is believed that the European Union and the United Nations are still able to play a role in the future political structure. Whether the Taliban integrate into the future system or establish a new system, the decades-long achievements will be at stake and Afghan women will be marginalized from the social and political sphere. With this in mind, the EU and UN have to press the Taliban to respect the achievements regarding the public rights and freedoms and do not seek to impose a new system on the people.
If the Taliban do not integrate into the system immediately and persist on their military deal, it is believed that the world will not recognize its regime. The Taliban had better stop conflict, which will result in further casualties, and integrate into the system through the Doha negotiations.
To the unmitigated chagrin of the Afghan people, the US and its international allies simply watch the ongoing casualties and humanitarian crises. A large number of people are killed, internally displaced, fled the country, and have their houses destroyed, the US and its allies, which came to the country to promote the protection of human rights and empowered women, are silent.
The disregarding approach of the US, a strong ally of the Kabul administration, to the humanitarian crises as well as violation of humanitarian law has filled the air with disappointment. Afghans are surprised to see that it is left in the lurch and the sacrifices made in the last two decades were proved abortive.
Afghan’s first vice president Amrullah Saleh said on a tweet, “We call on UN and other international organizations to work with us in providing any type of assistance to massive number of people who have sought refuge in Kabul due to brutality, revenge killing, loot and rape…. Painful scenes in streets of Kabul.”
The people, after paying heavy sacrifices for the establishment of republic and democratic system, do not deserve to suffer more pain. The international community has to engage actively and constructively in support of human rights and humanitarian law in the country. They have to raise their voice. The violation of humanitarian law has to be documented so that the perpetrators are brought to justice. Shedding the blood of people with impunity will outrage the conscience of all people around the country, if not the world.
It is highly outrageous so see that a number of states have exploited the human rights discourse and a number of groups religious narratives, both for reaching their political interests.
If the international community does not put its weight behind the human rights discourse at the current critical time, the people of Afghanistan will feel pessimistically regarding this discourse and will lose its hope and trust in international organizations. It is believed that if the Taliban leadership face international pressure regarding democratic values, it will show flexibility.
The war has to be stopped and the locals’ houses should not be destroyed further. The international community has to press the warring sides to declare ceasefire right here and sign an agreement for the future political structure as it was done in the Bonn Conference. The humanitarian crisis and bloodshed need to stop right now.
It is hoped that the history will not repeat itself and the UN and Afghanistan’s international allies will learn from the history.