The prospects of reconciliation with Taliban were believed to have another turn, but only to lead to the same destination – ambiguity and uncertainty. After the news reports on Sunday, August 12, that Afghan delegation had held a secret meeting with Taliban’s former second in command, Mullah Abdul Ghani Bradar, in a detention in Pakistan, the very next day it was reported that no such meeting was held.
The news reports on Sunday claimed that the national security adviser to Afghan President, Rangin Spanta had said that an Afghan delegation had met Baradar in Pakistan secretly, two months ago.
Reuters reported Spanta as saying, “We have met Mullah Baradar… Our delegation has spoken to him to know his view on peace talks.” On the other hand, Rehman Malik, Advisor to Pakistani Prime Minister, was also reported to have said that Pakistan had granted Afghan officials access to Baradar - "They had access at the required and appropriate level… We are fully cooperating with Afghanistan and whatever they are asking for the peace process, for developing peace in Afghanistan.
We are giving every kind of help." With the news reports mentioned above, it was expected that Pakistan’s doubted role in the reconciliation with Taliban might have changed for better, but the expectations were soon over as on the very next day, there were reports that no Afghan delegation had met Baradar.
Afghan authorities have been asking the Pakistani officials to handover Taliban leader, including Baradar to Afghan authorities as he is expected to play an important role in dialogues with Taliban. Baradar was captured in a joint operation by CIA and Pakistan intelligence agents in the Pakistani city of Karachi in 2010.
He was the main operational commander responsible for leading the Taliban campaign against U.S. and NATO troops. He was also accused of plotting suicide bombings and other types of attacks on the international troops. He was the most important associate of Taliban leader Mullah Omer and has had a sturdy reputation in Taliban circle.
The handover of Baradar to Afghan authorities or the meeting of Afghan authorities with him in Pakistani detention center can play a role, though very meager, in starting the dialogues with Taliban. However, after the news report of meeting of Afghan delegation with Baradar, both the Pakistani and Afghan authorities reacted vehemently.
On Monday, August 13, two senior Afghan authorities – Afghan Ambassador to Pakistan, Mohammad Omar Daudzai and the presidential spokesman, Aimal Faizai – had opinions contrary to news reports. Omar Daudzai, said, “Neither a delegation from Kabul nor diplomats from the Afghanistan embassy in Islamabad have met Baradar”. “This is an absolutely baseless story,” Aimal Faizi remarked. On the other hand, Pakistan’s Interior Ministry denied the reports of the meeting, as well.
The scenario at hand shows the level of distrust and ambiguity regarding the cooperation between the two countries for the reconciliation with Taliban. It at the same time shows the uncertainty regarding the overall process. From the very inception of the process there have been doubt regarding the process.
In fact, Afghan government has not been able to deal with the reconciliation process appropriately. The proof lies in the present scenario when all the parties to the conflict lie much distant from one another. Though on most of the occasions the government officials have exaggerated about the process, there have been various controversies and deficiencies that have been highlighted every now and then by different intellectuals, writers and politicians.
The most important The challenge is not to bring Taliban to the negotiation table, alone; the true challenge is to manage a negotiation process that can result into sustainable peace and tranquility in the country and that can promise a better and tranquil future for the generations to come.