Editor in Chief: Moh. Reza Huwaida Thursday, March 28th, 2024

Afghans Shall Decide To Live in Peace or War!

War is known as part of the identity of Afghanistan now. It is more than four decades that Afghanistan is in war. It takes the lives of many Afghans every day, destroys its economic and physical infrastructures.
When the Soviet Union left Afghanistan most of the Afghans and the international community thought that a new chapter would be soon opened in the life of Afghans; they assumed that Afghan refugees will return to their country, they will start rebuilding their country and live a happy life. However, it did not come true, because different Afghan armed groups immediately started fighting against each other in the country. Religion, language, race and region were the main causes of the new round of the conflicts in the country. All the hopes of Afghans vanished and they were left alone. The international community did pay no attention to address the civil war in the country, because the USSR was demolished and they thought that the Afghan civil war was an internal issue. When all Afghan were fed up of the civil war, the Afghan Taliban emerged as a group to save the country and put an end to the endless suffers of the Afghan citizens. Sadly, it turned to another tragedy due to the harsh religious policies and specific ethic agendas of the group.
Taliban made Afghanistan s safe haven for the terrorists. However, international community did not take their threat serious unless the twin towers of the United States were attacked by Al-Qaeda, a group affiliated with the Taliban regime and provided shelter by them. They both believed and believe now in a strict interpretation of Islamic law and that violence is needed to enact it. Anyhow, after September 11 terrorist attacks, the United States attacked Taliban and toppled their regime. This time, nearly all of the Afghans were sure that Afghanistan would be rebuilt, the refugees would return to the country and All Afghan would live in peace and harmony. However, it did not happen and the war restarted Again.
It is about one year that the US has started direct talks with the Taliban. The seventh round of talks between the U.S. special envoy for peace in Afghanistan and the Taliban ended on July 6, 2019, after signs of progress, according to the reports. The US and Taliban may reach to a peace deal sooner or later. However, the question that needs to be answered is that, will peace and security be restored in the country? The answer is clear: No!
According to a report submitted by Pentagon to the US Congress, the Khorasan branch of ISIS has expanded the areas it controls during the past six months (December 2018 to late May 2019) in Afghanistan. Based on this report ISIS will continue fighting against the US and Afghan defense and security forces. If there is a peace deal between the US and Taliban, ISIS and some more conservative parts of Taliban will continue attacking the US and ANSF.
War has been part of the life of Afghans for more than four decades. To be honest, there is not much hope for a comprehensive peace in Afghanistan soon. Strategic rivalries between the regional and world powers, mafia groups and loose social cohesion are the main causes of the endless wars and conflicts in Afghanistan. The Afghans may not be able to do much with the first and second causes of the war in their country. However, if they put aside their mistrusts and trust each other they will be able to define a shared future for themselves in Afghanistan. Doing so, they will be able to put an end to the endless wars in their country. The last but not the least, Afghans can search for peace and war within themselves. As a result, they only can decide either to continue this tragedy or live a peaceful life.