Dr Muhammad Khan
AMIDST the optimistic peace talks between Afghan Government and Afghan Taliban two significant developments are being viewed as crucial and taxing in the reconciliation process.
The first is the unannounced visit of Indian National Security Adviser, Ajit Doval, to Afghanistan on January 13, 2021 where he had in-depth meetings with top Afghan officials including Abdullah Abduallah and President Ashraf Ghani.
The visit was kept secret by New Delhi and Kabul until his meeting with the key Afghan officials. From the perspective of its future impact, the timings of this meeting were very vital.
Doval’s visit coincided with the second and most crucial phase of intra-Afghan dialogue, took place in Doha, Qatar and just a few days before Joe Biden Administration took over the control of the White House for the next four years.
Besides, there have been significant and optimistic developments in the bilateral relationship between Kabul and Islamabad in last one year, which was being viewed as a ray of hope for the return of peace in Afghanistan. A strong co-relation between Islamabad and Kabul is always regarded with pessimism in New Delhi.
Despite recurring optimistic visits of Afghan and Pakistani delegations and officials in the past one year, there came some undesirable statements from Kabul, sequel to the visit of Mr Ajit Doval.
The details of the visit and the understanding reached between Kabul and New Delhi are yet not known except a statement issued by the Afghan Presidential Palace that the talks were fixated on the “on-going peace process and combating terrorism”.
However, the change in the tone of Afghan Government and its officials is a clear indication of new trends and new plots for impairing the intra-Afghan peace process and to undo the ongoing Pakistani role for promotion of peace in Afghanistan.
The White House intent of reviewing the US-Taliban Agreement is yet another significant development which has endangered the ongoing reconciliation process and intra-Afghan dialogue.
The Joe Biden Administration’s newly appointed National Security Adviser, Mr Jake Sullivan, revealed the US intent of reviewing the agreement while talking to his Afghan counterpart Hamdullah Mohib.
In this regard the withdrawal plan of US and NATO forces from Afghanistan as agreed in the agreement has been postponed.
The decision will create unrest among the ranks of Taliban which may resort to re-start attacks against foreign forces and Afghan national security forces. Any review of the agreement may create dismay for the Afghan masses which were enthusiastic to see the return of peace and stability in Afghanistan.
It is worth mentioning that for his election victory, the former US President Donald Trump acted against the wishes of the US Establishment (Pentagon and CIA) in signing the agreement with Afghan Taliban.
The factual position is that, peace in Afghanistan neither suits India nor it suits Pentagon. Peace in Afghanistan goes against the narrative of India and the US Establishment (Deep State).
It was the need of President Trump for his election victory for the second time which could not be materialized. Otherwise, the US has its strategic objectives linked with its presence on Afghan soil.
The new developments in Afghanistan are hinting at creating new infighting between Taliban and Afghan Government.
Such a development will seriously endanger the ongoing peace process and regional peace. As an ultimate beneficiary of peace in Afghanistan, Pakistan desires peace in Afghanistan. With the same intent, Pakistan has played a very constructive role towards peace in Afghanistan in the last two years.
Pakistan played a crucial role in bringing the US and Taliban closer together for bridging the gaps and signing the peace agreement in the first phase. In the second phase, Pakistan brought closer together the Afghan Government and Taliban through intra-Afghan dialogue at Doha, Qatar.
Unfortunately, there are anti-peace process forces operating in Afghanistan which work as spoilers. Pakistan believes that without peace in Afghanistan, the region surrounding it will remain in turmoil. The turmoil has, in fact, negatively impacted Pakistan from all perspectives: political, social and economic.
Pakistan has been constantly hit by terrorism sponsored from Afghan soil by its eastern neighbour. This traditional rival of Pakistan has deliberately kept Afghanistan in a state of chaos and constant civil war since 2001. Indeed, instability and civil war in Afghanistan provides it with a ploy to remain entrenched in that country. Peace in Afghanistan would leave India without any justification to stay there anymore. An original Afghan perspective, emanating from the masses of this war-torn country has always been missing. The original Afghan perspective about Pakistan is a country which has always rendered all-out support and brotherly relationship with the people of Afghanistan.
The Government and people of Pakistan desire an early return of peace and stability in Afghanistan. In this regard, the extra-regional interests of major powers and the vested interests of India must be kept at bay by the Kabul Administration.
President Ashraf Ghani and his team must realize and apprehend the plans of those forces which act as spoilers in Afghan peace and reconciliation process.
The intra-Afghan dialogue must make meaningful progress in this regard. For the success of this dialogue and reconciliation process, there has to be sincerity and dedication among the ranks and files of Afghan Government and the Taliban leadership.
— The writer is Professor of Politics and IR at International Islamic University, Islamabad.
