National Unity Government (NUG), since its inception, has strived to give the peace talks with Taliban a new momentum. President Ashraf Ghani is trying to rebuild ties with Pakistan so as to be able to have successful negotiations; however the task has not be accomplished yet and there is a long way to go.
President Ashraf Ghani, in a meeting with the members of Grand Ulema Council on Friday, April 10, promised to help establish durable peace in the country even if it costs him his life. He also mentioned that sincere efforts were underway to remove obstacles in the way to peace. Though Pakistani and Afghan governments have been very positive about the developments in the process, there have not been evident achievement in this regard and there has not been direct and open talks with Taliban so far. Taliban, as well, have not clearly announced that they are ready for the peace talks.
Afghan government has many times mentioned that the peace talks with Taliban will be based on the conditions that they accept Afghan constitution, lay down arms and respect human rights, particularly women rights; nonetheless, Taliban have never given the indication that they are ready to accept these conditions. They, on the other hand, given their own conditions for the peace talks; the first and foremost being the withdrawal of all the US forces from Afghanistan. However, for Afghan government it is really imperative that they make Taliban ready to accept these conditions before peace talks.
Apart from Taliban, there are many factions and individuals, even in Afghan government, who believe that there must not be any precondition to peace talks as setting conditions hamper the efforts to start negotiations. On Thursday, April 09, a gathering of some influential individuals, religious leaders and former Jihadis, arranged by Qutbuddin Helal - a member of Hezb-i-Islami non-violent faction, at the Loya Jirga in capital Kabul, called for the long-anticipated peace talks to be started soon without preconditions. Helal, during his speech, said, “The only way to achieve peace is flexibility and agreeing with each other. Peace talks must be started without any condition because peace will be the biggest achievement.” Former Vice-President Mohammad Yunus Qanuni also mentioned that peace is the demand of every Afghan, we need peace, we should win it, and we want an end to the armed struggle. Fortunately, more opportunities are available today for peace negotiations.
Though, peace negotiation is urgently required and there must be sincere efforts to make them successful, but following it without right conditions may prove to be fruitless for Afghanistan. Afghan constitution must always be safeguarded and there must not be any compromise in this regard. Moreover, the achievements, though not very comprehensive, regarding human rights and the rights of women must never be compromised, as well. Peace at the sake of these conditions would mean a loss, not a true peace.
It is correct that the prospects of peace and tranquility do not seem very much clear; yet, there are possibilities to start afresh from this point and reach to a somewhat reputable position in the times to come and save the nation from another age of instability and misery. There is no doubt that for its journey to stability, Afghanistan would require a great deal of assistance from the regional countries and Western allies. However, the most dominant role has to be played by Afghanistan itself. Afghan authorities in contribution with Afghan people can really change the destiny and can guarantee a promising future for the generations to come; all it needs to do is to focus on certain considerations.
Sincerity and the consideration for national interest, in this regard, must be pursued with full zeal and enthusiasm. The influential individuals and factions must stand with Afghan government and support a democratic political system. They must not side with Taliban and support their type of Shariah-based system, which will lead to instability and disorder, once again.
The peace process depends largely on how Afghan authorities will deal with the circumstances ahead. At this crucial juncture when the Western allies do not have many options but to leave the country and the regional countries are very much interested in pursuing their own interests, the Afghan government does not have any other option but to be more responsible and deal with the situation on its own. Currently there are many concerns about the Afghan government; addressing them is in its total control if other things are out of it. Afghan government can listen to the different voices in the country that are peace-loving and want a better future for Afghanistan in the form of better political system, not to the ones that are determined to take Afghanistan towards extremism and terrorism. At the same time they can work on developing the political institutions and make them as much strong as possible as it is the institutions that make the evolution of political system towards stability and prosperity possible. This is possible if the government is ready to adopt a flexible and democratic attitude towards different opinions regarding the political amendments in the country.