Afghanistan appears to have been catapulted into another complex and difficult situation. Ten years of constant but ineffective fighting against terrorists and cruel insurgents are being replaced with a negotiation process of uncertain outcome and end state. Taliban and other insurgent groups were viewed as destructive forces that have aligned themselves with terrorist networks in the region and world virtually by all national and international actors involved in Afghan issue except for president Hamid Karzai, who continued to call them as 'upset brothers', and their sympathizers, funders, trainers and supporters in the region, who continue to employ them as means of their foreign- or at least regional- policy to serve their national interests, which continue to be thought not to be served otherwise.

But the nature of the game seems to have changed substantively. Those who were involved in the mission in Afghanistan out of sheer fear of not to be attacked back on their streets are attempting to bestow legitimacy to those evil forces if they let them an honorable exit from the country, where they have got mired in what is said to be the longest war of unknown end.

What is now in the news is that the US and Germany have had several rounds of talks with Taliban representatives in several countries. These talks are now resulting in a mutual agreement to facilitate opening of Taliban's office in Qatar, which will serve as an address for the militants to be as a party to the negotiation to be further advanced to reach a political settlement for the ongoing conflict to come to an end.

Both international community and insurgent groups seem to have been tired of continuation of war but this will have different consequences and results for the two parties. International community has clicked the button of withdrawal and is fasting walking out of the country due to domestic pressure and financial crises that have debilitated and enfeebled them too much to continue to support a war too costly.

So this impatience on the part of international community and consequent search for a way to pull out honorably may lead to actual arrangement for honorable exit but this will be no less than an overriding victory for the militants and regional powers whose interests continue to run common with those of the insurgent militants when it comes to international community's engagement and a democratic political stability in the country.

Having been weakened militarily, insurgent groups are lurking for a new opportunity to be rendered available to them after exhausted international community disengages from the country. Though officials from allied countries involved in Afghanistan have often warned Taliban that they would not provide such an opportunity for them, even if international community continues to engage in the country, the approach will be of a different nature.

This will not be fighting-based to keep the evil forces at bay and continue to consolidate democracy and promote human rights discourse; it will, rather, be accommodation-based, which is to say that Taliban and other insurgents will be welcomed to be accommodated in the camp but the concern that annoys those who have championed democratic political system is that this new approach could lead to the lion's share in favor of Taliban and consequently in reversal of democratic achievements in the country.

In fact, the scenario becomes even more dangerous if the democratic process is not adhered to because the last ten years have created new expectations among new Afghan generation and they will not afford a reversal in the process. Exited by the prospect of being a major legitimized political actor, Taliban, in their statements, have said that they would remain loyal to their perceived ideal-type state, which is Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. Experiences show that it is based on religious tyranny, and of exclusive nature, with no least deferential view of human and minority rights.

Both Taliban and Hezb-e-IslamiHekmatyar have announced their readiness to talk to international community in general and the US in particular. This is because these insurgent groupswant to be dealt with by international community as a real actor in Afghanistan and thus continue to engage or play in the country on their terms.

Afghan government's exclusion from the process will contribute to favoring Taliban and other insurgents in this demand. In the meanwhile, Afghan government's inability to fight corruption, which has led to widening of the gap between the government and people, and to map out a clear vision also works in favor of Taliban at least in terms of public support.

In fact, considering Afghan government's passiveness and Taliban's standing a chance of being legitimized by international community through their office in Qatar, Taliban seem to be intent upon outbidding Afghan government plagued by corruption and inefficiency to deliver services to Afghan people. Afghan government's passive stress and emphasis on the negotiation to be Afghan-led is indicative of a negotiation attempt of dubiousness.

The neighbors have continued to define their interests in conflict with those of Afghanistan. Iran has promoted international community, which has helped Afghanistan militarily, politically and financially over the last ten years, as occupiers.

It is making efforts to rally forces inside and outside Afghanistan against the long-term strategic agreements between the country and its international allies. Elements in Pakistan are viewed to be the main supporters of Taliban and other insurgent groups.

After the assassination of Professor Rabbani in September, it was declared to be the real party to the reconciliation process, which started with intensity more than a year ago. The argument for this change in the talk was made to be that Taliban themselves do not have any autonomy and they are controlled and used by elements that operate on the other side of Durand Line.

Many in the country have supported this new positioning of Afghan government, though critics stated that Pakistan would not be sincere in helping negotiate a political settlement in Afghanistan.But since Afghan government itself does not have any major role in the recent developments in talks with Taliban and opening of their office in Qatar, Pakistan is trying to work with the US create a role for itself to playin the negotiation process.

In order to conclude this piece, it should be said that there will be no enduring peace if there are not effective power arrangements of democratic nature and if Taliban and other insurgent groups do not agree to such arrangements.

Otherwise, international community may be able to clear the ground for their honorable exit and regional countries may be able to achieve their interests but Afghanistan will decline into another cycle of violence and Afghan people will continue to suffer. In order for international community to act responsibly, it should take the complex structure of Afghan society into consideration in their attempts to disengage and negotiate with armed oppositions.