Our role in Afghan peace

Pakistan’s role in the Afghan peace process has been the subject of intense debate for too long, but there is no doubt that the complex process is absolutely unattainable without Islamabad’s will and support.  Recently, Pakistan’s efforts received a diplomatic endorsement by a cluster of major powers including China, Russia and the US. The acknowledgment comes just in time for Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is set to meet US President Donald Trump later this month in Washington DC. Unfortunately, we have seen similar endorsements by Washington or those who run the US capital, in the past. Top Pentagon officers and even Senate heavyweights like John McCain, who served as the chairman of the Armed Services Committee, have said there could be no peace in Afghanistan or the rest of the region without Pakistan’s cooperation.

For President Trump, who is eager to seal a deal to end the 18-year long war, the recent endorsement from Moscow and Beijing should serve as a sign that he alone cannot negotiate a peaceful and dignified exit from the longest military conflict in US history. The appreciation from Moscow and China also highlights the new equations of the world order that are being drawn without Washington’s influence. And with the US becoming an increasingly unreliable player and partner on the world stage under Trump, both Beijing and Moscow are trying to reconfigure global orientations. The increasing involvement of Russia and China in the Afghan peace process indicates that major world players are inclined towards a regional solution and not just a solution that focuses on Afghanistan. Perhaps it’s also time for the government in Afghanistan to realize that it will not be able to achieve peace without the support of Pakistan.

Given the history of conflict in Afghanistan and the country’s inability to sustain peace, it’s important for all players to be on the same page to prevent spoilers from derailing the process. International guarantors need to ensure that Pakistan remains an integral part of all possible peace efforts.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, July 15^th, 2019.

Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.