Pakistan unlikely to play seminal role in Afghan peace
Think tank says the deal could build some trust between Kabul and Islamabad
PHOTO: REUTERS
With the peace deal signed between the United States and the Afghan Taliban entering the next phase, deliberations between the power centres in Afghanistan, it is unlikely that Pakistan can play a seminal role in bringing peace to its war-torn neighbour at this point.
This was suggested by the think tank, the Institute for Policy Reforms (IPR) as it issued a fact sheet on “The US-Afghan Deal” on Tuesday.
The fact sheet analyzed the likelihood of success of the US-Afghan peace deal which was signed by representatives of the US government and the Afghan Taliban on February 29, 2020, in Doha, especially in the context of the many new and enduring challenges faced by the region and the world.
The paper suggested that given the world’s focus on the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the peace deal may stay off the front pages for now. With cases in Pakistan topping 200, the issue may also slip from being the main headlines. However, it remains a key, if not a top, priority for Islamabad, the paper said.
Taliban agree to join ‘all-inclusive govt’ in Afghanistan
Though the deal appears to be a possible harbinger of peace, the paper said that immediately after the signing ceremony, it appeared to unravel over a clause relating to the release of prisoners along with the mentioned timing and modality of the ceasefire.
The US has been conveying inconsistent messages to the Taliban on the one hand, and Kabul on the other, jeopardising the trust of both, the IPR paper said.
Other developments make the deal more complex, particularly the fact that Kabul has two parallel and mutually hostile governments at the moment, it said. In the midst are other stakeholders who answer to neither of the pretender governments.
From this complicated situation the question arises just who are the Taliban expected to engage with if they are serious about a dialogue with anyone in Kabul, the paper noted. More alarming was the real threat of a Pashtun versus non-Pashtun split in Afghanistan.
Despite the current mess, there is a war-weariness that could induce all parties to consider a compromise, it said, noting that there remains a possibility that the February 29 deal could prove to be a turning point towards relative peace and abating decades of Afghan suffering.
Perhaps, it would also lead to building some level of trust and goodwill between Kabul and Islamabad. But for this to be possible, several problems must be addressed, it suggested.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 18th, 2020.
This was suggested by the think tank, the Institute for Policy Reforms (IPR) as it issued a fact sheet on “The US-Afghan Deal” on Tuesday.
The fact sheet analyzed the likelihood of success of the US-Afghan peace deal which was signed by representatives of the US government and the Afghan Taliban on February 29, 2020, in Doha, especially in the context of the many new and enduring challenges faced by the region and the world.
The paper suggested that given the world’s focus on the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the peace deal may stay off the front pages for now. With cases in Pakistan topping 200, the issue may also slip from being the main headlines. However, it remains a key, if not a top, priority for Islamabad, the paper said.
Taliban agree to join ‘all-inclusive govt’ in Afghanistan
Though the deal appears to be a possible harbinger of peace, the paper said that immediately after the signing ceremony, it appeared to unravel over a clause relating to the release of prisoners along with the mentioned timing and modality of the ceasefire.
The US has been conveying inconsistent messages to the Taliban on the one hand, and Kabul on the other, jeopardising the trust of both, the IPR paper said.
Other developments make the deal more complex, particularly the fact that Kabul has two parallel and mutually hostile governments at the moment, it said. In the midst are other stakeholders who answer to neither of the pretender governments.
From this complicated situation the question arises just who are the Taliban expected to engage with if they are serious about a dialogue with anyone in Kabul, the paper noted. More alarming was the real threat of a Pashtun versus non-Pashtun split in Afghanistan.
Despite the current mess, there is a war-weariness that could induce all parties to consider a compromise, it said, noting that there remains a possibility that the February 29 deal could prove to be a turning point towards relative peace and abating decades of Afghan suffering.
Perhaps, it would also lead to building some level of trust and goodwill between Kabul and Islamabad. But for this to be possible, several problems must be addressed, it suggested.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 18th, 2020.