The Intra-Afghan Dialogue In Doha
These are early days, but one can say a glimmer of hope for peace in trouble-torn Afghanistan is held out after the just concluded all Afghan conference at Doha which brought the warring sides together. The two-day meeting between Afghan politician’s and Taliban representatives in Qatar called intra-Afghan dialogue appeared to get the country a step closer to peace with a statement that laid out the foundations for a roadmap to end the nearly 18 years of war.
Committed to respect and protect the dignity of people, their life and property and to minimise the civilian casualties to zero, a joint statement released at the end of the talks in Doha said. Some 70 politicians, civil society activists and women representatives met with representatives of Taliban during the intra-Afghan dialogue co-sponsored by Germany and Qatar in the Qatari capital. The Taliban has so far refused to negotiate directly with Kabul and the Ashraf Ghani government has been kept totally out of the talks. Taliban dubs the government as illegitimate.
At the same time, it must be understood that much politics is at play over the momentum to the peace process. The U S looks in a tearing hurry to get its “boot off the ground” in Afghanistan. Washington is hastening the process, unmindful of consequences for the region if Taliban is allowed to have an upper hand. In September last, US President Donald Trump appointed Zalmay Khalilzad as his special envoy for Afghanistan Reconciliation. Khalilzad has so far held seven round of talks with the Taliban officials in Doha. The talks mainly focus on four factors which include –US troop’s withdrawal – counter terrorism assurance –intra Afghan dialogue and a ceasefire agreement.
Though Khilazad has said that the key to peace lies with Kabul, it is only half truth. Former Afghan intelligence chief Amrullah Saleh has hit the nail right on the head by insisting that the key to the problem is the shadow of Pakistan over the talks.”"The determination and will for peace has always been in Kabul, but the key to peace has always been held hostage in Rawalpindi/GHQ.", said Saleh, some time back. Experts feel that the desperate U S need to withdraw the troops within a year has emboldened the Taliban to virtually dictate terms to it. The Taliban appears to be Pakistan's proxy, promoting the strategic interest of Islamabad even in negotiations. The Taliban are ethnically not all Pashtuns — there are lots of Pakistanis too in their ranks, they say. Washington feels that the roadmap could be decided by September one, allowing the withdrawal of U S and NATO troops.
At the same time, an article of the resolution arrived at the meet which describes Taliban’s 18-year long war against security forces and civilians as “jihad”, sparked a reaction in the Afghan senate with senators rejecting it as opposing the Constitution. Their contention was that the jihad ended after the withdrawal of Soviet troops in 1989. Any war after that was not jihad. Moral of the story is that the road to peace is strewn with many obstacles, but the fact that the meeting took place this time was itself a signal that the ice has started melting. It is seen as a substantive step towards peace in Afghanistan.
Former President Hamid Karzai has hailed the positive results of the peace meeting. The return of peace to Afghanistan is only possible when the Afghans decide their future through the intra-Afghan dialogue,” he says echoing the general mood among people. At the SCO summit last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had pitched for a united, peaceful, safe and prosperous Afghanistan for the stability and security in the SCO region. India’s aim is to support the efforts of the government and the people of Afghanistan for an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled inclusive peace process, The Prime Minister said.
The tragedy is that Afghanistan has always been the playground of the "great game', with different nations battling ideologically and strategically to control and guide Afghanistan. A section of Afghanistan watchers have cautioned that the consequences of a hasty pull-out will be rewarding Pakistan's duplicity and an oppressive Taliban regime in Kabul, Jihadi expansion in the region, including India, and facilitating China's regional aims.
Script: Sunil Gatade
Committed to respect and protect the dignity of people, their life and property and to minimise the civilian casualties to zero, a joint statement released at the end of the talks in Doha said. Some 70 politicians, civil society activists and women representatives met with representatives of Taliban during the intra-Afghan dialogue co-sponsored by Germany and Qatar in the Qatari capital. The Taliban has so far refused to negotiate directly with Kabul and the Ashraf Ghani government has been kept totally out of the talks. Taliban dubs the government as illegitimate.
At the same time, it must be understood that much politics is at play over the momentum to the peace process. The U S looks in a tearing hurry to get its “boot off the ground” in Afghanistan. Washington is hastening the process, unmindful of consequences for the region if Taliban is allowed to have an upper hand. In September last, US President Donald Trump appointed Zalmay Khalilzad as his special envoy for Afghanistan Reconciliation. Khalilzad has so far held seven round of talks with the Taliban officials in Doha. The talks mainly focus on four factors which include –US troop’s withdrawal – counter terrorism assurance –intra Afghan dialogue and a ceasefire agreement.
Though Khilazad has said that the key to peace lies with Kabul, it is only half truth. Former Afghan intelligence chief Amrullah Saleh has hit the nail right on the head by insisting that the key to the problem is the shadow of Pakistan over the talks.”"The determination and will for peace has always been in Kabul, but the key to peace has always been held hostage in Rawalpindi/GHQ.", said Saleh, some time back. Experts feel that the desperate U S need to withdraw the troops within a year has emboldened the Taliban to virtually dictate terms to it. The Taliban appears to be Pakistan's proxy, promoting the strategic interest of Islamabad even in negotiations. The Taliban are ethnically not all Pashtuns — there are lots of Pakistanis too in their ranks, they say. Washington feels that the roadmap could be decided by September one, allowing the withdrawal of U S and NATO troops.
At the same time, an article of the resolution arrived at the meet which describes Taliban’s 18-year long war against security forces and civilians as “jihad”, sparked a reaction in the Afghan senate with senators rejecting it as opposing the Constitution. Their contention was that the jihad ended after the withdrawal of Soviet troops in 1989. Any war after that was not jihad. Moral of the story is that the road to peace is strewn with many obstacles, but the fact that the meeting took place this time was itself a signal that the ice has started melting. It is seen as a substantive step towards peace in Afghanistan.
Former President Hamid Karzai has hailed the positive results of the peace meeting. The return of peace to Afghanistan is only possible when the Afghans decide their future through the intra-Afghan dialogue,” he says echoing the general mood among people. At the SCO summit last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had pitched for a united, peaceful, safe and prosperous Afghanistan for the stability and security in the SCO region. India’s aim is to support the efforts of the government and the people of Afghanistan for an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled inclusive peace process, The Prime Minister said.
The tragedy is that Afghanistan has always been the playground of the "great game', with different nations battling ideologically and strategically to control and guide Afghanistan. A section of Afghanistan watchers have cautioned that the consequences of a hasty pull-out will be rewarding Pakistan's duplicity and an oppressive Taliban regime in Kabul, Jihadi expansion in the region, including India, and facilitating China's regional aims.
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