The Taliban will attend a meeting in Paris this month to talk about country’s future but would not discuss peace and reconciliation with Afghan government. The meeting, organized by a French think-tank on the outskirts of Paris, is not expected to have any outstanding result on peace process but will be a chance for Afghan government officials and Taliban delegates to sit around a table and share their views and concerns about the future.
Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mojaheed has confirmed that two of its delegates will set off for Paris to attend the meeting but rejected that there would be any negotiation on peace and reconciliation. Afghan officials and representatives from high peace council will also participate in the meeting, but it is not clear whether they will talk with each other at the edge of the meeting or not.
Along with Afghan officials, leaders of political parties opposed to Taliban militants will also attend the meeting. It should be noticed that peace process is not a new thing. Taliban frequently rejected talks with Afghan government, calling it as puppet for the US, but always emphasized to talk directly with the United States. It was March when Taliban announced that talks with the US was disrupted over what they called as ambiguous stance of Washington.
On the other hand, present government never got disappointed of talks with militants. He left no stone unturned. Taliban defectors were strongly welcomed by him and they hold key posts within the current
political establishment. No one can dare to open mouth in opposition and ask former Taliban high ranking officials about tens of thousands of people killed during the regime.
Perhaps, many can remember when the first Loya Jirga—the grand traditional assembly—was called by Mr. President and there, participants approved holding peace talks with militants on condition that they had to lay down arms and accept the constitution. And, if they joined, they would be forgiven and wouldn’t be persecuted, no matter what positions they used to have in Taliban establishment.
Taliban leaders made mockery of the Jirga which holds high reverence among Afghans, particularly, Pashto speaking community, saying that the conditions were much more like call for surrender not for talks.
Even that time I wrote that the Jirga could not prove consequential because the Jirga approved nothing visible to entice them to join the government. The only thing participants counted on was protection of anyone who lays arm, accepts the constitution and joins government. Was that new? Of course not!
After the very collapse of the Taliban regime in 2001, through foreign military involvement, Kabul officials clearly explained for all militants that they could join government without fear of persecution and, more importantly, they would be appointed in key administrative posts. There are a lot of examples about Taliban defectors who are still suspicious of maintaining linkage with former colleagues, but work in quite lucrative positions. They are holding mouthwatering posts and no institutions dares to question their dark profile.
Let’s put it this way. Taliban militants have had no problem in joining the democratic process. Elements showed interest have been highly welcomed. But one striking turn occurred in late 2009, and that was disappointment of foreign allies for success of military strategies.
Indeed, years of engagement without clear prospective about victory made many foreign allies to reassess their military strategies and search for alternatives. One of those alternatives was of course the so-called Afghanization of the mission, which was generally interpreted as transferring responsibilities to Afghan people and giving them authority to take their destiny in their own hands.
This process provided President President to stamp on a policy which he maintained and pushed for, perhaps, from the very start of anti-insurgency struggle in 2001. Thereafter, he has held bold steps to make deal with Taliban militants. He publicly calls them as dissent brothers and even emphasizes on his stand that Taliban has changed dramatically from what they used to be. It is not a very unfamiliar statement in domestic press that if Taliban recaptures power and end to current ruling establishment, they would not rule the country as they did.
Probably, they allow girls to go to school and observe human rights, specifically, women rights to some extent. These claims are made with such certainty that leads to false assumption among common civilians. I do not know why such illogical claims are made. Is it due to efforts made by circles within and out of the government in order to draw a more acceptable picture of Taliban militants and the regime they would establish?
And I leave the answer for you, but there is one thing that I can assure you about: that is “Talibanism and Human Rights” are contradictory that wouldn’t approach each other at all. If it be true, as some claim, that militants have changed, what is the problem? Why they avoid joining the current administration which would shed tears in order to welcome them?
Perhaps, what haven’t changed and wouldn’t is the Taliban stance and their conditions. From the very start, they vowed to target the members of High Peace Council and would not talk with Kabul government because, according to them, it is not authorized.
No doubt, it is widely believed that Taliban militants are led by elements out of the border. If the pressure mounts on their financers and political supporters, Taliban may yield and start negation with Afghan government.