Amid US efforts for establishment of an office for Taliban in Qatar, the Karzai administration has been signaling worries about being sidelined in the process of negotiation with the insurgents. How come so disappointed? Indeed, ending the Afghan war through a political settlement is not possible without participation of Karzai government, even if symbolic.
After all, the Afghan government holds the credit for presenting the idea of negotiations with Taliban for the first time. No doubt, Taliban and Hikmatyar's Hezb-i-Islami deem Karzai administration as powerless and prefer direct dialogues with the US; it cannot be so simply ignored. In fact, the Afghan government does not want the efforts it has made - in regards of persuading Taliban to table talks - to go futile, although they have borne so sweet fruit.
The good news for Karzai is that he will soon be meeting US special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Marc Grossman. Grossman, who is believed to have held several sessions of talks with Taliban last year, left Washington on Sunday, on a 12 day visit to Ankara, Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, Kabul and Doha.
His visit means that US has launched a new diplomatic offensive to consult its allies on its efforts to reengage the Taliban. Though, this time, the US leaves Pakistan out of the loop, the Afghan government has agreed to resume talks with Pakistan based on the intention of that country to cooperate in peace talks with Taliban.
Grossman's visit to Kabul will somehow address the concerns of Karzai administration. The visit also signifies that the US, at this point of negotiation with Taliban, deems it important to consult and involve its allies. And that is a must.
The process cannot go so vaguely and secretly. The people of Afghanistan need to know, "What is going on?" They expect the US and the Afghan governments to make public all improvements on talks with Taliban as they fear any compromise on the constitution of Afghanistan and their ten year gains in education, women rights, media, civil society and other democratic values.