Beginning of a new chapter between Kabul and Islamabad
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With the start of intra-Afghan talk there is a visible improvement in Pakistan’s relations with Afghanistan. The visit of Afghanistan's chief peace negotiator to Islamabad is seen as recognition by Kabul government of Pakistan’s pivotal role in the Afghan peace process.
Many describe the visit as turning of a new chapter in the relationship between the two neighbors. Both sides expressed their desire to move beyond their acrimonious past and build cooperative relations. Abdullah Abdullah said that he was leaving Islamabad with a good sense, a good impression, and a lot of friendly messages.
The visit of Abdullah Abdullah, who in the past had served as chief executive of his country, came as the talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban have taken off on an optimistic note. The much-delayed talks started in Doha in mid-September to discuss the future political setup in Afghanistan.
It is the most critical phase of the Afghan peace process, with the representatives of the Kabul government for the first time sitting face to face with Taliban leadership. The negotiations are shrouded in secrecy as the two sides are still trying to reach a framework for more substantive talks.
Since the signing of the peace accord with the US earlier this year, the Taliban have intensified their attacks on Afghan security forces in order to expand the areas under their influence. It also seems a part of Taliban strategy to gain advantage at the negotiating table. One other reason for the Taliban reluctance to agree to a ceasefire is that once the fighters leave their posts it would be difficult to remobilize them.
Zahid Hussain
Apparently, the main objective of Abdullah’s visit was to seek Pakistan’s support to get the Taliban agree to a ceasefire in order to create a conducive atmosphere for the talks to progress. He reportedly told the Pakistani leaders that it was in the best interest of peace to press the Taliban for a reduction of violence.
The Afghan leader wanted Pakistan to send a clear message to the Taliban that it was the right time to "be flexible."
"This will be the right thing at this stage,” Abdullah said in a media interview. He made it clear that the future cooperation between Kabul and Islamabad would depend on whether the Taliban fully embrace the Doha talks.
Pakistan’s prime minister, Imran Khan, has also called for a reduction in violence by all parties to the conflict. He stressed on adopting a forward-looking approach rather than remaining stuck in the past. He reiterated that Pakistan would support whatever Afghans agreed upon about the future of Afghanistan. But the real challenge for Islamabad is to encourage Taliban to agree to ceasefire or at least to reduction of violence during the talks.
Since the signing of the peace accord with the US earlier this year, the Taliban have intensified their attacks on Afghan security forces in order to expand the areas under their influence. It also seems a part of Taliban strategy to gain advantage at the negotiating table. One other reason for Taliban reluctance to agree to a ceasefire is that once the fighters leave their posts it would be difficult to remobilize them.
Pakistan has played a pivotal role in getting the Taliban to the peace table, first in direct talks with the United States, which resulted in an agreement that led to the intra-Afghan negotiations now underway in Doha. Pakistan maintains that it has no favorite in Afghanistan, but its close links with the Taliban remains a major cause of Kabul’s suspicion. Pakistani leaders have called for a fresh approach in addressing the outstanding problems between the two countries.
The initiation of intra-Afghan talks is certainly a big stride in the efforts to find a political solution to the festering Afghan crisis. The stakes are high for both Kabul and Islamabad. While an agreement would raise the prospects for peace in the region, a breakdown in talks could deepen the civil war in Afghanistan that will have direct bearing for Pakistan. Both the Kabul government and the Taliban needed to make compromises in order to arrive at an agreement acceptable to all sections of Afghan society.
It is never easy for two sides engaged in a long war to achieve peace. There are some fundamental differences on the key issues related to the future political setup in the war-torn country. A better understanding and close cooperation between the Afghan government and Pakistan will certainly help make the talks successful.
Indeed there have been serious efforts by Imran Khan’s government to improve its relations with Kabul. Abdullah’s talks with the Pakistani leaders may have helped melt the ice but there is still a huge wall of distrust between the two neighbors that needs to be removed. One cannot agree more with Abdullah that the two countries face common threats and challenges and that there is an untapped potential for cooperation between them.
- Zahid Hussain is an award-winning journalist and author. He is a former scholar at Woodrow Wilson International Centre for Scholar, USA, and a visiting fellow at Wolfson College, University of Cambridge, and at the Stimson Center in Washington DC. He is author of Frontline Pakistan: The struggle with militant Islam (Columbia university press) and The Scorpion’s tail: The relentless rise of Islamic militants in Pakistan (Simon and Schuster, NY). Frontline Pakistan was the book of the year (2007) by the WSJ.
Twitter: @hidhussain
