HYDERABAD:
The Doha Accord — an agreement reached between the US and the Taliban in February of last year — had ignited some hopes to bring the decades-long Afghan imbroglio to an end. However, trust deficit coupled with the Taliban’s refusal to accept the Afghanistan government and increasing acts of insurgency can jeopardise the whole process. According to sources, the US, before pulling out its troops, wants the Taliban to cooperate with the Ghani-led administration. The Biden government has therefore called for reviewing the deal signed with the Taliban.
This provides Pakistan with an opportunity to actively engage with all regional players, politically and diplomatically, to bridge the gap and move these talks forward. Pakistan has played an immense role in persuading the Taliban leadership to join the negotiations. Now, it should use its clout to convince them to participate in the intra-Afghan talks for the betterment of regional stability and prosperity.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 22nd, 2021.
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