High hopes for final peace in Afghanistan

By Sajjad Malik
0 Comment(s)Print E-mail China.org.cn, February 2, 2019
Adjust font size:
In this handout photograph taken and released by the Afghan Presidential Palace on January 27, 2019, Afghan president Ashraf Ghani (C) talks with US special representative for Afghan Peace and reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad (top L) during a cabinet meeting at the presidential palace in Kabul. [Photo/VCG]

The latest round of talks lasting six days between the Taliban and American representatives in Doha, Qatar, produced concluding statements showing how much ground the two sides have covered in getting closer than ever to an agreement. 

The dialogue by itself is a major achievement in bringing together the U.S. and Taliban – the two main parties in the long-running Afghanistan conflict. The Taliban had always insisted it would only talk with the Americans who they regarded as responsible for installing and controlling the present government in Kabul. 

The Americans, meanwhile, have shown pragmatism in starting direct talks with the rebels without Afghan government involvement, for, without doubt, the latter would have liked to play a leading role.  

Let us also give credit to the current Afghan government for showing maturity by not insisting it be part of the talks from the word go. In response, Zalmay Khalilzad, the U.S. special envoy, has been keeping President Ashraf Ghani informed about what has taken place. 

Reports now suggest a framework has been agreed to end violence and put the country on the path to peace and development, although, so far, nothing has been shared officially and the two sides maintain a tough public posture. 

The Taliban insist on holding to their demand that U.S. should withdraw its forces before any tangible progress can be made towards peace. On the other hand, Khalilzad has said that nothing will be agreed until everything is agreed. 

America's key demand has always been that the Taliban should recognize the elected government in Kabul as well as endorse the existing national constitution ensuring democracy and elected government. 

Another major condition by the U.S. and the international community is that the Taliban should not allow any militant group to use Afghanistan as a base for militancy against any other country. 

Additionally, they should also respect universally-accepted human rights, including those related to women, and avoid to repeat the gross violations that typified their rule in the 1990s. 

When we talk about forward movement, it means that there are positive developments on all these vital issues as the peace process is carefully nurtured. The next milestone will be agreement on a ceasefire linked with an announced schedule for an American troop withdrawal, thus creating an environment for direct talks between Taliban and Kabul government.

President Donald Trump has already pledged to bring home the soldiers from Afghanistan in order to terminate the longest war his country has waged so far. 

Pakistan played a crucial role in bringing Taliban on the negotiating table. Its positive efforts started with the release of Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar last year to lead the Taliban side in the talks. 

The key stakeholders including U.S., Taliban, Afghanistan and Pakistan are directly or indirectly part of the process. Other countries like Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar are also involved. Major powers like China and Russia have also expressed their support. 

Countries like India and Iran have not said much about the ongoing talks, but apparently India is in the loop. How Iran will react to the final deal is not clear, but it has already begun mending fences with the Taliban and will not be overtly reactive or oppose their return to Kabul. 

The upcoming deal will be win-win for everyone. The Taliban will be vindicated as U.S. will announce a pullout and will use this to claim victory. 

The key U.S. demand would be met after Taliban accepted the existing Afghan constitution and pledged not to use their land, or allow it to be used by militants, to work against the interests of Washington and the rest of the international community.  

Afghanistan obviously will be the actual beneficiary if the peace deal can end more than four decades of suffering and bloodshed. The regional security dynamics will also improve and unleash a lot of economic activity, directly benefiting all its neighbors.

Finally, the end of the Afghan conflict will heal the last wound of the Cold War period and also put a lid on the saga on "The Great Game" between major powers prevailing since the 19th century. 

Sajjad Malik is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit:

http://www.ccgp-fushun.com/opinion/SajjadMalik.htm

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.

Follow China.org.cn on Twitter and Facebook to join the conversation.
ChinaNews App Download
Print E-mail Bookmark and Share

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)

No comments.

Add your comments...

  • User Name Required
  • Your Comment
  • Enter the words you see:   
    Racist, abusive and off-topic comments may be removed by the moderator.
Send your storiesGet more from China.org.cnMobileRSSNewsletter
主站蜘蛛池模板: 国产欧美日韩中文字幕| 中国美女一级毛片| 97人人模人人爽人人少妇| 极品欧美jiizzhd欧美| 国产精品区免费视频| 中文字幕视频不卡| 欧美精品免费在线| 国产三级在线观看完整版| 91成人试看福利体验区| 无码超乳爆乳中文字幕久久| 亚洲欧美另类综合| 色国产精品一区在线观看| 国产精品永久久久久久久久久 | 野花香社区在线视频观看播放| 天天狠天天透天干天天怕∴| 久久精品国产99国产精2020丨| 男女边摸边做激情视频免费| 国产又污又爽又色的网站| 99re免费视频| 成年无码av片在线| 亚洲av永久无码精品古装片| 男人和男人一起差差| 国产午夜精品一二区理论影院| 亚洲视频一区二区三区四区| 天天躁日日躁狠狠久久| 中国一级全黄的免费观看| 最新国产午夜精品视频成人| 人妻少妇久久中文字幕| 蜜桃臀无码内射一区二区三区 | 国产精品成人va在线观看入口| 一定要抓住电影在线观看完整版| 最新无码a∨在线观看| 亚洲免费电影网| 男女啪啪免费体验区| 国产人妖系列在线精品| 2020精品国产自在现线看| 就去吻亚洲精品欧美日韩在线| 久久综合综合久久综合| 欧美综合婷婷欧美综合五月| 亚洲色婷婷六月亚洲婷婷6月| 美女被免费网站在线视频免费|