Two will need to tango for regional peace
Afghans have right to expect something if civilian, military leaders have made promises
File photo of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif shaking hands with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani after a news conference in Kabul, May 12, 2015. PHOTO: REUTERS
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan’s top foreign affairs adviser, Sartaj Aziz, has come up with what is believed to be a logical response to President Ashraf Ghani’s calls for military action against the Afghan Taliban. Aziz reminded the Afghan leaders that the military option has not produced results in 14 years.
“We say that the military has been used since 2001, but there is no result,” the foreign adviser told reporters in Islamabad this week. “We think the option of reconciliation is not possible in two or four weeks. It takes time and we will make efforts.”
Although the Pakistani adviser reiterated the country’s long-standing policy of not fighting foreign wars on their own soil, Afghans have a right to expect something from Islamabad if civilian and military leaders have made certain promises, either directly or through other forums.
The forums include the quadrilateral group of Afghanistan, China, Pakistan and the US. Afghanistan has long been insisting that Pakistan either bring the Taliban to the negotiation table or take action against the militant group.
As the Taliban refused to enter into peace talks with what they call “the figurehead leadership of the fifty-fifty surrogate Kabul administration” and launched their annual fighting season, it is Pakistan’s responsibility to ensure its soil is not used against the neighbouring country.
Aziz’s comments received an angry reaction in Kabul and the presidential palace dismissed the remarks as a reflection of “Pakistan’s policy of double standards”.
“Pakistan had committed in writing at QCG’s meetings to take military action against armed opponents of the Afghan government, but now they do not consider it suitable,” President Ghani’s Spokesperson Dawa Khan Menapal said.
Menapal told Radio Azadi that Kabul would protest with the United Nations about “Pakistan’s support” for Afghanistan’s armed groups.
He said the presidential palace instructed its special representative at the UN to register a complaint against Pakistan.
Being a sovereign nation, Afghanistan can approach the international body, but this action will be considered a move to discredit the quadrilateral grouping at a time when diplomatic efforts are under way to convene a meeting.
Some diplomatic sources in Islamabad earlier hinted the QCG meeting is likely to be held in May. However, the aggressive posture of Afghan officials would create obstacles for the conference which is the best forum for Kabul to share its evidence about its claims of Pakistan’s involvement in any activity.
Afghanistan’s Chief Executive Dr Abdullah Abdullah was upbeat at the launch of the QCG when he spoke to a Pakistani delegation in Kabul in late December. He said now the US and China will monitor Pakistan’s commitments.
However, Kabul officials now avoid the QCG forum and Menapal, in a recent statement, said his government wants Pakistan to take military action against the Taliban before the next meeting. Kabul’s unwillingness to raise the issues at the QCG means it does not have a strong case despite backing from the US.
Afghan leaders should understand that the QCG has now assumed much importance as it will assess the situation arising out of the Taliban refusal to join the peace process. Sartaj Aziz also highlighted this aspect; however, Kabul leaders only focused on his statement of the military option.
“The QCG will assess prospects for the talks between Kabul and the Taliban. However, it will also look into options if the talks do not start,” the adviser stated.
This has been the mindset since the launch of the four-way process in December. The military option will only be on the table if all efforts for peace are exhausted. Afghan leaders will have to exercise patience as years of conflict with the Taliban cannot end in weeks or months.
Kabul officials should blame certain elements in Afghanistan which forced the government to miss the chance of some interaction with Taliban political negotiators in Pakistan.
Diplomatic sources familiar with the visit of Qatar-based Taliban representatives disclosed that Pakistan was scheduled to formally invite the Afghan government to send its team for the meeting. However, a particular lobby in Kabul influenced President Ghani to break one of his election pledges to pursue peace with his armed opposition.
It is unfortunate that Afghan leaders have disgraced its High Peace Council (HPC) that is mandated for dialogue with the Taliban and other groups. The HPC can play a key role in the peace process if President Ghani freely allows it.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 7th, 2016.
Pakistan’s top foreign affairs adviser, Sartaj Aziz, has come up with what is believed to be a logical response to President Ashraf Ghani’s calls for military action against the Afghan Taliban. Aziz reminded the Afghan leaders that the military option has not produced results in 14 years.
“We say that the military has been used since 2001, but there is no result,” the foreign adviser told reporters in Islamabad this week. “We think the option of reconciliation is not possible in two or four weeks. It takes time and we will make efforts.”
Although the Pakistani adviser reiterated the country’s long-standing policy of not fighting foreign wars on their own soil, Afghans have a right to expect something from Islamabad if civilian and military leaders have made certain promises, either directly or through other forums.
The forums include the quadrilateral group of Afghanistan, China, Pakistan and the US. Afghanistan has long been insisting that Pakistan either bring the Taliban to the negotiation table or take action against the militant group.
As the Taliban refused to enter into peace talks with what they call “the figurehead leadership of the fifty-fifty surrogate Kabul administration” and launched their annual fighting season, it is Pakistan’s responsibility to ensure its soil is not used against the neighbouring country.
Aziz’s comments received an angry reaction in Kabul and the presidential palace dismissed the remarks as a reflection of “Pakistan’s policy of double standards”.
“Pakistan had committed in writing at QCG’s meetings to take military action against armed opponents of the Afghan government, but now they do not consider it suitable,” President Ghani’s Spokesperson Dawa Khan Menapal said.
Menapal told Radio Azadi that Kabul would protest with the United Nations about “Pakistan’s support” for Afghanistan’s armed groups.
He said the presidential palace instructed its special representative at the UN to register a complaint against Pakistan.
Being a sovereign nation, Afghanistan can approach the international body, but this action will be considered a move to discredit the quadrilateral grouping at a time when diplomatic efforts are under way to convene a meeting.
Some diplomatic sources in Islamabad earlier hinted the QCG meeting is likely to be held in May. However, the aggressive posture of Afghan officials would create obstacles for the conference which is the best forum for Kabul to share its evidence about its claims of Pakistan’s involvement in any activity.
Afghanistan’s Chief Executive Dr Abdullah Abdullah was upbeat at the launch of the QCG when he spoke to a Pakistani delegation in Kabul in late December. He said now the US and China will monitor Pakistan’s commitments.
However, Kabul officials now avoid the QCG forum and Menapal, in a recent statement, said his government wants Pakistan to take military action against the Taliban before the next meeting. Kabul’s unwillingness to raise the issues at the QCG means it does not have a strong case despite backing from the US.
Afghan leaders should understand that the QCG has now assumed much importance as it will assess the situation arising out of the Taliban refusal to join the peace process. Sartaj Aziz also highlighted this aspect; however, Kabul leaders only focused on his statement of the military option.
“The QCG will assess prospects for the talks between Kabul and the Taliban. However, it will also look into options if the talks do not start,” the adviser stated.
This has been the mindset since the launch of the four-way process in December. The military option will only be on the table if all efforts for peace are exhausted. Afghan leaders will have to exercise patience as years of conflict with the Taliban cannot end in weeks or months.
Kabul officials should blame certain elements in Afghanistan which forced the government to miss the chance of some interaction with Taliban political negotiators in Pakistan.
Diplomatic sources familiar with the visit of Qatar-based Taliban representatives disclosed that Pakistan was scheduled to formally invite the Afghan government to send its team for the meeting. However, a particular lobby in Kabul influenced President Ghani to break one of his election pledges to pursue peace with his armed opposition.
It is unfortunate that Afghan leaders have disgraced its High Peace Council (HPC) that is mandated for dialogue with the Taliban and other groups. The HPC can play a key role in the peace process if President Ghani freely allows it.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 7th, 2016.