The Afghan-Taliban peace process is finally back on track, at least as far as the resumption of talks are concerned. Once more Pakistan has served as the facilitator between the Afghan government and the TTP, with the Foreign Office spokesperson emphasising Pakistan’s commitment to an “Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace and reconciliation process”. The Taliban for their part seem to have plumped for a strategy of ‘talking while fighting’. The US and China are observers and facilitators of this peace discourse. It is widely acknowledged by now that peace in Afghanistan is a global requirement. After the first round of these talks, both sides have chosen to be reticent about what transpired, except to indicate that there would be another round of talks after Ramzan.What is clear is that the process of talking, even if it just comprises talks about talks, is gaining traction. The Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister, Hekmat Khalil Karzai, is reportedly leading the Afghan delegation and — significantly — the Haqqani Network is said to be represented. Pakistan, rightly, has a major stake in the outcome of any peace process in Afghanistan, and the quality or otherwise of its own security environment in coming years may well hinge on the outcome(s) of any talks. Regional and international support for a peace process is also key. Perhaps until there is a full-fledged peace process, the outside powers can nudge efforts along to produce an Afghan-owned peace process.Despite a marked improvement in bilateral relations, Pakistan is still viewed with suspicion in Afghanistan – a legacy of the Karzai regime – and politicians are quick to exploit that. Afghanistan still views Pakistan as an influential factor in entire game. Until now, the degree of influence the state here has over the Taliban has been disputed by Pakistan. The claim was that Pakistan’s influence has diminished and it never was the master-subordinate relationship that many in the West allege the Pakistan-Taliban relationship to have been. What was perplexing though was quite why Pakistan had not made an obvious effort to reciprocate Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s determined outreach to it. Now, perhaps some of those doubts will dissipate. However, The process itself is fraught with difficulties, the Taliban have several demands that are pre-requisites for their cooperation; the foremost being the departure of all foreign forces. It is hard to see Afghanistan accepting this. In fact it has asked requested the U.S Congress for additional troops. It seems Ashraf Ghani is certain that dialogue is the way forward but he is uncertain about the parameters of this dialogue. Where will he compromise and where will he not? Apart from this much as the world may want a peaceful settlement in Afghanistan, does the Taliban’s leadership share that vision? And even if it does, can the leadership convince the rank and file to lay down their arms, especially when the new generation has known nothing but war?
pk.shafaqna.com
