Editor in Chief: Moh. Reza Huwaida Friday, March 29th, 2024

Conflict Leads to Human Rights Violation

Annually, thousands of Peace Day events take place around the globe, many programs are held to promote peace, and Nobel Peace Prize laureates make speech to show the world their work has not been finished, however, peace still remains elusive and warring factions continue killing innocent individuals and violate their rights and liberty flagrantly.
Afghanistan is one of the countries which bears the brunt of militancy. Democracy is undermined by terrorist networks. The strong-willed Afghan administration left no stone unturned to bring the Taliban to the bargaining table. The constant peace offerings by Afghan government have been refused and the Taliban guerillas, along with other terrorist factions, play their destructive role in the country through targeting men, women and children for ideological reasons or on the basis of one’s race and religion.
Lack of acceptance and religious tolerance are believed to be the main reasons for the escalated militancy. Warring factions shed the blood of people voraciously due to their warped minds and aggressive ideology. They claim racial and religious superiority and believe that killing would be the only choice – this mentality necessarily belongs to the radical ideologues. On the other hand, mercenary fighters practice upon no ideology and play with the life of individuals just for the hack of it. That is, there are some natural evils as violence runs in their blood. Such ilk of fighters seeks to harm people for pleasure. 
Afghan administration played its role positively through offering the Taliban olive branch with the hope to bring in peace, strengthen democracy, and protect the rights and liberty of the citizens. The government intends to form “a civil society void of oppression, atrocity, discrimination as well as violence, based on rule of law, social justice, protecting integrity and human rights, and attaining peoples’ freedoms and fundamental rights,” as it is stated in the preamble of Afghan Constitution.
The country’s constitution was approved on the basis of Islamic tenets and cultural facts and the Taliban elements are urged to stop bloodshed and practice upon this constitution. 
President Ashraf Ghani administration has formed its negotiating team for talks and waiting that the Taliban leadership will negotiate with the team as soon as their talks are finalized with the US representatives. Afghans hope that the US-Taliban talks will lead to sustainable peace in the country. But there is still ambiguity in the talks and contradictory statements are made in this regard by both the Taliban and US officials.
For tireless efforts within a decade for peace and stability in the country, Afghanistan should not have been sidelined in the talks ongoing for ninth rounds between the US representatives and the Taliban leadership.
It is self-explanatory that the inherent and fundamental rights and freedoms of people were violated by warring factions and the main reason behind the talks is to support peace, which will ensure the individuals’ rights and liberty. The horrible consequences of the conflict is clear. Afghans paid highly heavy casualties as a result of the indiscriminate attacks carried out by the militant fighters, mainly those of the Taliban.
The violation of human rights and humanitarian law has prevailed in Afghanistan for decades, particularly after the Taliban’s regime and continuation of their militancy. The Taliban fighters pay no heed to individuals’ human rights.
Meanwhile, women, who suffered severely during the Taliban’s regime, are worried if their rights are compromised at the peace table and if the Taliban enter the country with their radical ideology.
Needless to say, civilians have nothing to do with war and must be safeguarded against violence regardless of their racial, religious or linguistic backgrounds. In addition to civilians, detainees and wounded soldiers should not be tortured or humiliated. Warring factions must act on the basis of humanity and ethical code – for being human – if not religious tenets. Killing civilians will do nothing other than revealing their barbarity and increasing the public pain and anguish.
Martin Luther King has aptly said, “Violence is immoral because it thrives on hatred rather than love. It destroys community and makes brotherhood impossible. It leaves society in monologue rather than dialogue. Violence ends up defeating itself. It creates bitterness in the survivors and brutality in the destroyers.”
Since all parties have come to the conclusion that war encountered a deadlock and the issues should be resolved through negotiations, the negotiating sides should not bargain much at the table. It is recommended that war criminals should be brought to justice after peace deal is signed between the negotiators.