Peace spoilers in Afghanistan

Afghanistan is in the throes of violence and protracted conflict for the last thirty five years. First it was because of former Soviet Union’s invasion, later during Afghan jihad. After Soviet forces withdrew from Afghanists, it was due to internecine conflict between various Afghan warlords. The Taliban took advantage of their conflict and could control 90 per cent of Afghan territory, as the people were fed up with the death and destruction in Afghanistan. After 9/11 events, the US and its NATO allies had invaded Afghanistan and overthrew the Taliban. With more than 100000 troops armed with sophisticated weapons and by raising 250000 Afghan army and police, they could not subdue the Taliban. Now all and sundry acknowledge that the problem cannot be solved through war and weaponry, and initiation of peace dialogue and positive engagements between the contestant groups can be the only practical and viable option.
Pakistan is desirous of seeing peace in Afghanistan and is sincerely committed to play a positive role in creating atmosphere conducive to dialogue between the Afghan government and the Taliban. Pakistan has categorically denied any proximity with Taliban as propagated by Indian and western countries. The impression that Pakistan supports the Taliban has been exploited to create mistrust between Afghanistan and Pakistan, though Pakistan has expressed its firm resolve to eradicate extremism and terrorism without discrimination. Operation Zarb-e-Azb and National Action Plan is clear manifestation of the same. Some elements opposed to a peaceful Afghanistan are remnants of former president Hamid Karzai and elements of former Northern alliance. Other are countries of the region always attempted to hinder the progress or disrupt any positive outcome of Pak-Afghan engagement through proxies to carry out terrorism either on Afghan soil or in Pakistan.
Due to Pakistan’s role in Afghan imbroglio, the country remains a prime target of vested countries and some regional powers. However, one has to appreciate increased engagements at Military level of both Pakistan and Afghanistan. However political leaderships must expand the contacts and engagements to foster bilateral relationship at all levels. Of course, certain elements across the border are opposed to an improved relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan, especially former president Hamid Karzai and his close aides, who do not wish to see bonhomie between the two countries. Last year, he had strongly condemned the Memorandum of Understanding between intelligence agencies of the two countries about intelligence sharing. He had earlier opposed Ghani’s decision to send army officers for training to Pakistan. It was in this backdrop that President Ashraf Ghani had reportedly demanded tough action from Pakistan against Taliban in a letter to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif seeking greater anti-terrorism cooperation.
He had also asked Islamabad’s civilian and military leadership to condemn the Taliban’s annual spring offensive and reiterated Kabul’s longstanding demand of denying insurgents sanctuary on their side of the border. But Pakistan had already destroyed militants’ networks without any discrimination. Pakistan for the first time had publicly denounced last year’s Taliban spring offensive and had urged the Taliban to cease hostilities and engage in peace negotiations with the Afghan government. Furthermore, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had categorically stated that enemies of Afghanistan are enemies of Pakistan, without any exception. Pakistani military and civilian leaders have thrown all support behind President Ashraf Ghani’s efforts to bring peace to his war-ravaged country. It appears that Afghan government had pinned high hopes on Pakistan that it would use its influence to bring the Taliban leaders to the negotiating table and make them accept Afghan government’s conditions.
In July 2015, Afghan Taliban delegation had held talks with Afghan officials in Islamabad. Afghan government delegation led by deputy foreign minister Hikmat Khalil Karzai comprised Qari Din Mohammad, Mullah Khalil, Farhadullah and Mullah Abbas. The Islamabad meeting was the follow up of a meeting at Urmaqi in China. Many in the Taliban office in Qatar including its head Tayyeb Agha had earlier taken the position that they did not want Pakistan to be involved in the peace process at this stage, but there seemed to be a change of mind that they were in Islamabad. Muhammad Ismael Qasimyar, Global Affairs Adviser at the High Peace Council, had said: “Whether we like it or not, Pakistan has an effective role in bringing peace and stability to Afghanistan.”
Pakistan had hosted the first round of Taliban peace talks in July, but a planned second round was indefinitely postponed after the Afghan government announced that the Taliban leader, Mullah Mohammad Omar, had died years earlier. The talks could not be revived later because of rift between Taliban over new leadership and tension between Pakistan and Afghanistan, after deadly bombings in Kabul, which Afghan government said were carried out by militants who have their bases in Pakistani northwest. It means that some elements in Afghan government do not wish to see rapprochement between Afghan government and the Taliban, which is why they announced death of Mullah Omer at the crucial moment to roil the dialogue. President Ashraf Ghani has to understand the reality and be watchful of the elements who wish to destabilize his government.
It has to be mentioned that even talks in Urmuqi and Norway were said to have been facilitated by Pakistan. There is no denying that many a misunderstanding was removed between Afghanistan and Pakistan, and relations were on a positive trajectory. Northern alliance, Indians in Afghan administration and elements in Afghan intelligence agency NDS do not wish to see peace in Afghanistan because they don’t like to share power with the Taliban and forgo perks and privileges enjoyed by them. Barring a small section of Taliban, majority of the Taliban groups are in favour of dialogue with the Afghan government, which is likely to start next week. Important elements of the Taliban have signaled they may be willing to send negotiators at some point. One Taliban commander reportedly said that preparations have gone so far as to choose the team including two members of the Taliban’s office in Qatar.