Saleem Irshad Faruqi
During the recently held meeting of the quadrilateral group in Islamabad for furthering the Afghan peace talks, Afghanistan China, Pakistan and the US, all emphasized the immediate need for direct talks between representatives of the Afghan government and Taliban groups to move forward with a peace process, aimed to preserve Afghanistan’s unity sovereignty and territorial integrity. Taliban are expected to resume talks with the Afghan government next month. Pakistan has maintained the stance during the opening session of the quadrilateral group that no precondition should be attached for peace talks with Taliban. it was agreed that the primary objective of the reconciliation process is to create conditions to bring the Taliban groups to the negotiation table and offer them incentives that can persuade them to move away from using violence as a tool for pursuing political goals. Mr Sartaj Aziz during the said meeting also emphasized that proper sequencing is required in the negotiating process, adding that “threat of use of military action against the group will cause hindrances and cannot proceed the offer of talks to all groups. Besides, distinction between reconcilable and irreconcilable rules and how to deal with the irreconcilable can follow once all avenues of bringing them to the table have been exhausted. He also urged that certain confidence building measures could play a key role in encouraging Taliban to join the negotiating process.
Experts believe that beginning the peace talks in winter season by the stakes also suited the Taliban. Hence, the window of opportunity for the peace talks is only within the next two months as fighting season may commences after April and prior to it, the Taliban might see some use in agreeing to revive peace talks. Some pessimist also expressed a grim view of the peace talks, predicting that they are not expected to yield any result as there are too many negative forces behind jeopardizing the idea of bringing peace and prosperity in Afghanistan, however, a considerable consensus remains that as long as Kabul and India try to undermine Pakistan interests, the talks would not be able to succeed. Experts opine that there are lots of expectations from India by international community that she would abstain from playing negative role during the whole process of peace talks. Hence, India is expected to resolve her part of the expectations and interests in Afghanistan by engaging into a separate dialogue process with the stake holders. India needs to supplement the already initiated efforts of international and regional countries for bringing peace and prosperity in the region. India have to stop; experimenting and engaging her energies into nefarious methods for achieving the desired end, other wise the whole region would be converted into hub of terrorism and no country would be able to escape form the fire .
Western security experts had earlier pointed out some inherited shortcomings of Afghan National Army , which direly needs to be addressed by the Afghan government. After the fall of kunduz, the Afghan government and its international donors had soon realized the need to fortify the fragmented and fragile Afghan security apparatus by improving the band of its weaponry and Air support. Besides, enhancing the capacity and capability of security forces by improving the selection, scrutiny, training and employment of right man for the right job, but some how it seems not yet have fully materialized. Earlier, there were incidents and reports of withdrawals and surrendering of Afghan Armed forces in the face of fierce Taliban attacks. A senior Afghan commander had confessed that situation was so worst that at one stage the same commander had to lock approximately 150 Afghan soldiers in barracks, who wanted to run away; scaring from Taliban wrath. The treatment of Afghan armed forces with the fellow Afghans is also a matter of concern as the Afghan general populace are feeling the burnt of atrocities by Afghan security services. Besides ,those people experiencing the deployment of Afghan forces in their areas; have a serious view that ” Taliban were better than Afghan forces as they at least respected their homes and women’.
Experts are of the view that the Afghan government needs to address the weaknesses of the Afghan Armed forces at professional and moral grounds. They must constitute and behave like a National Army of the country, as they augment the sole hope of a safe and prosperous future for Afghanistan. Experts also view that the recapturing of significant lost areas by the Afghan security forces has boosted their morale but the overall confidence of the donor countries have yet to be gained. It is probably the reason of a apparent shift of the estimation and appreciation by the international community, regarding the capacity and capability of the Afghan Armed Forces. The fall of kunduz and its subsequent recapture may have also played a significant part in the changed view. Recently, the Afghan security forces have retaken a district in the north of the country, killing 30 Taliban fighters and capturing vehicles and weapons from the insurgents, the defence ministry said. Combined army, police and Special Forces units took back Darqad district, on the border with Tajikistan. Hence, by addressing the need for required strength at a particular area and engaging the available force with correct identification of foe ,Afghan forces can improve their image of falling apart by observing and obeying the right course of action to neutralize the enemies of peace and prosperity .
Experts firmly argument regarding the sustainability, stability and prosperity of Afghanistan is overall linked with the blooming of her own economy, besides, tackling militancy and violence. Experts also suggest that afghan government must consider the key areas like firstly offering the Afghan Parkton’s their due representation in the government, including the civil and military bureaucracies. Secondly, the reconciliation and peace-building role is jointly led by the UN and the OIC with endorsement and support of all the 32 countries and 14 organizations that form part of the Heart of Asia process. Thirdly, reduction of the Indian intelligence footprints in Afghanistan and stopping Russia to play both sides i.e Taliban and Afghan government by funding massively in Afghanistan. Four, recognition of the Pak-Afghan border by the latter and its joint fencing and monitoring. Five, initiation of an Afghan-led and owned dialogue with only those warring factions in Afghanistan that recognize the present Afghan constitution; with Pakistan, China, the OIC and the UN, acting as arbitrators and facilitators.