Cancelled talks

Prioritising is in order on Pakistan’s part as well as some organisation on the US and Afghan Taliban’s part


Editorial February 19, 2019

Talks between the Afghan Taliban and the United States that were scheduled to take place in Islamabad on February 18 have been cancelled on account of members of the Taliban’s newly formed committee being unable to travel due to restrictions.

Discussions that took place last month in Russia, the UAE and Qatar bore some fruit with regard to the pulling of US troops out of Afghanistan and sustaining peace in the country. The cancellation of talks at this point may be a setback and it is a fragile time so as not to hurt the egos of either side, especially the side that has sought to disturb the peace in the last couple of decades.

Factually, neither Pakistan nor Washington had officially confirmed the talks which serve to break the momentum that was building in helping Afghanistan transition.

Sometimes, timing is everything. Whether defusing an IED; going late to school because a gunfight to murder 150 of one’s classmates is about to ensue, then deciding not to go at all; or maintaining peace talks to bring enemies away from the fighting and to the table for negotiations. For Pakistan, this week was almost impossible to meet for a discussion on a major regional matter, especially a day after the Saudi Crown Prince’s arrival. To schedule anything around the time was careless considering that all of the country’s energies are focused towards the PM House at this time, so much so that we have even largely ignored Iran’s summoning of Pakistan’s envoy over attacks on its security forces at the border, despite Iran being a long-time ally.

Prioritising is in order on Pakistan’s part as well as some organisation on the US and Afghan Taliban’s part. For example, sorting out members of the Taliban’s negotiating team to sit down persons who are not presently under US custody. This reduces objectivity in the ongoing talks. Also, it is impossible for peace to be achieved in Afghanistan without the Ghani administration on board.

A rethinking of strategy is required and the talks that were scheduled need to be rearranged before sentiments are hurt or parties feel disrespected.

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