Afghan's change of heart
The realisation on the part of the Afghan Taliban that talks is the way to go and that there is an earnest need for scaling down on public posturing is a welcome development. Though a belated cognisance, it could have churned wonders had it happened on the eve of talks in Doha and Istanbul that were merely torpedoed by Kabul on ego-centric prefixes. The least that the reclusive dispensation should do is to watch its steps, and be reminded that it has a responsibility to dispense for itself, and for the region, by exterminating the terror nexus thriving on its soil.
It is no secret now that Afghanistan is the hub of terrorism in the region, and the charge-sheet is endorsed by the UN too. The world body in its 16th report of Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring said that a "wide range of member states consistently report" that "terror organisations like ISIL-K, TTP, Al Qaeda" and others are "present in Afghanistan". The thrust, thus, should be on taking them to task and not brewing an aura of animosity with Pakistan and other neighbours.
The recent edict from Afghan ulema "barring Afghans from carrying out attacks beyond the country's borders" is a jiff of fresh air. It has gathered resonance from the counterparts in Pakistan too, and is likely to create a new eco-system wherein religion and extremism is not used as a pretext to further personal and political vendetta by bleeding others. Similarly, the utterance from Afghan Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani, publicly reassuring that Afghan soil would not be used against any other country must walk the talk.
Last but not least, the unannounced dictum to retain a low profile in state-centrism and desist from talking through the media will certainly usher in the desired CBMs for ironing out tricky issues away from limelight in a cognitive diplomatic manner. It's time to work for a breakthrough in bilateral relations, and see to it that transit trade, cross-border legal movement and harmony take precedence over politics of hate and divisiveness.