The ambiguous reconciliation process with Taliban is not only widening the gap between the Afghan people and Western allies but also making the future of Afghanistan's political scenario very much uncertain. There are fears that after the withdrawal of international troops and inappropriate arrangements of peace a civil war may erupt in the country. Even the prominent intellectuals and political leaders have now started showing their great concerns about a very limited reconciliation process and possibilities of re-emergence of Taliban and a civil war.
The recent statements of Ahmad Zia Massoud, the leader of Afghanistan National Front (ANF), in this regard are worth consideration. He has said, "If Taliban are back in the political process, being imposed on us, the Afghan people will definitely resist, paving the way for another war to happen… If Taliban want peace, we are ready to make peace, but if they want to fight, there will be a fight.
That's it. If you coddle them, give them a political address and other gains, they will never be ready for any talks." The concerns mentioned by Ahmad Zia Massoud are worth consideration. Taliban have never reacted well to softer tones and have always shown aggression in response to affectionate invitations of dialogue.
On the other hand it shows that opposition groups and the leaders of minority groups are completely neglected in the reconciliation process. They do not have any confidence about the outcome of the process and feel that the decisions are being imposed on them. In fact they have the right to do so. Being an integral part of Afghan society and a party to the conflict they should be involved in the process. Keeping them distant from the process means making them react in desperation.
The leader of National Coalition, Abdullah Abdullah, has also mentioned that the reconciliation process with Taliban must be made transparent and US and Afghan authorities have to avoid secrets in this regard. He has mentioned, "The Taliban must announce that they are ready to hold peace talks with the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.
Those who take part in the talks must be clearly defined and it must be clear who and what sides they are representing… The Afghan people can never accept a return of the Taliban regime or their strict rules." This shows that none of the opposition groups or the representatives of minority groups, who collectively form more than half of the country, has been involved in the process and they are kept away from the process where they can play a dominant and decisive role.
The Afghan Presidential office, on the other hand, has not been doing much in ensuring greater participation of all the Afghan people and important political and ethnic groups, rather it is busy in strengthening the Presidency. It is, in fact, searching for some kind of authoritarian rule so as to make the power serve a very strong president, which is against the demands of a multi-ethnic and diverse society, like that of Afghanistan.
The need of time is that the President must support a parliamentary system with proper representation of all the groups of the society so that Afghan democracy must be established on stronger grounds. But the Afghan Presidential office seems more inclined to depend upon warlords and powerbrokers rather than golden principles of democracy.
The revelations of former UN envoy to Afghanistan, Kai Eide in his book – Power Struggle Over Afghanistan, are worth to be considered. He has mentioned that President Hamid Karzai has shown leniency towards warlord and powerbrokers which has been able to destroy Afghanistan in the past and may do the same in future. Afghan President, in fact, needs to have the support of its own people more than anyone else.