Chairman of High Peace Council Salahuddin Rabbani is in Islamabad for talks on the efforts of a process for peace and reconciliation. He met Pakistani Prime Minister Pervez Ashraf on Monday. The talks have not been around any central point for a breakthrough related to the job the Peace Council has been established for. Rather, border security cooperation and "the need for joint peace efforts" have been agreed upon. In other words, without homework and any prior development, we are not to expect any breakthrough in this visit. However, there has been some gradual progress underway.
The Peace Council delegation met Pakistan Army Chief General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani on Tuesday. Besides holding talks with the civilian and military leadership, the visiting officials of the Council have also met several political and religious leaders of influential parties in Pakistan.
Pakistani civilian leadership has time and again reiterated the need for joint cooperation on peace efforts reiterating their assistance. However, ground realities have led sluggish progress in the mutual efforts.
Recently Ambassador Sadiq in Kabul said the U.S. efforts need to be focused at reach-out to insurgents, rather than a military defeat. He said "there are very important people who fought against the Taliban and are not still ready to talk and negotiate with the Taliban. And we are working with them."
He was of course referring to former Mujahideen leaders of the Northern Alliance who are now in the main political opposition blocs fiercely opposing any negotiated settlement with the Taliban at the cost of compromise on key principles of the post-2001 democratic system and values.
The Ambassador was saying Prime Minister Ashraf has appealed all insurgent groups to engage in negotiations. "We will encourage the entire armed opposition of Afghanistan to participate in peace negotiations with the Afghan government. Expectations should be reasonable about what we can do because Pakistan and Taliban are not one party. We don't control them, we don't give them weapons, we do not give money to them."
The leadership of former Northern Alliance, whether in Government or in the political opposition have never opposed talks with insurgents for a peaceful end to the conflict, but they oppose any surrender at the cost of the system and exclusive tribal-oriented agenda-driven peace-deal led by the current Karzai Administration.
It has been a positive u-turn by Pakistan in reaching out to all sections of the Afghan society, particularly leaders from former Northern Alliance. Their inclusive positive cooperation and support is a welcome change.
Despite the highly negative public sentiments about our neighbor, Pakistan can win hearts, minds and strategic alliance by playing a vital role in helping Afghanistan with the reconciliation process.