Afghanistan: The Final Words

By Nazar Mohammad Mutmaeen

Author of the Book : 6 Days with the Taliban Leaders (Pashto)

I would like to share with you the final words of my book (6 Days with the Taliban Leaders). The book is written about the latest peace efforts in Afghanistan.

As indicated in the preface, I have tried my utmost to convey the ideas & concepts of attendees during the meetings, rather to write & post my own insights. If you have fully read the book, you may have got a broader picture of all activists & players involved in the ongoing peace efforts.

I hope you may have also received some clarifications about the existing & future hurdles of peace process.

I will leave it to the readers to figure out & honestly judge as what some certain folks may seek under the name of peace efforts in the country.  I am neither cynical, nor feeling hopeless, but I have to admit the fact that there isn’t any potential & organized movement to track & achieve peace, nor any tangible progress has been made till present time. But, it does not necessarily mean that we have to cease to seek peace & sit idle.

You may have also learned further about the existing potential challenges & difficulties in relating to the peace process, if you have fully read the book. I will summarize it within a few points as follow;

1-    The Afghan government has continuously tried to introduce “Taliban” as a militant & armed group to the international community. The Taliban is trying to prove it to the international community that it is a political movement, has got a powerful political ideology & acts militarily whenever required. The international community is also willing to take Taliban out of their military isolation, so that they could play an active political role in the Afghan government.

2-    I think the mainstream readers of the book may have learned the fact that the Taliban political bureau in Qatar is required, both in the past & present time, but the Afghan government has repeatedly called for its closure & debarment of activities. The international community also realizes the importance of Taliban bureau in Doha, Qatar. One has to bear in mind that non-Afghans have benefited from Qatar office more than what the Afghans might have used. The US administration succeeded to liberate American inmates from Taliban custody through direct negotiations held at Qatar office, but the Afghan government officials have so far failed to get such an achievement.

3-    Taliban claim they do not want to monopolize any certain power & authority in the country, and the international community has recognized & agreed too, but there are still some Afghan politicians, who widely believe that Taliban may request further authorization & empowerment.

4-    One of the serious problem is holding direct talks with the Taliban, which the Afghan government claims is thoroughly fruitless and that is why is always better to arrange face to face dialogues with the Pakistani officials. The international community has also exercised mounting pressure on Pakistan to drag Taliban to the negotiating table. On the other hand, Taliban blames US for being the real hurdle behind achieving peace & tranquility in Afghanistan and that why Taliban believes that US officials should directly negotiate with Taliban. Meanwhile, the US also says that the Afghan government is legitimate and has already been recognized by the international community, and due to that the Taliban must get engaged in direct talks with the Afghan officials.

5-    Pakistan also milks the Afghan peace process, trying to seize more Afghan territory across the border, while India is busy stirring up anti-Pakistani sentiment in Afghanistan and on the other side; Iran has been interfering in Afghan cultural & religious components & affairs.

6-    Taliban recommends an urgent schedule for foreign troops’ withdrawal from Afghanistan, while the Afghan government has repeatedly requested for further foreign troops surge.

7-    Taliban wants to convene numerous peace talks at international levels, so that they could forward their proposals & wish-lists, but such peace dialogues are always boycotted by the Afghan government.

8-    The US diplomats have always reiterated the fact, saying the Afghan government was (is) legitimate and is widely supported by the US administration & the international community and the Taliban must get engaged in direct peace talks with the Afghan government officials. During our meeting, we were told by Prof. Paolo Cotta-Ramusino, the Secretary General of PUGWASH Conferences on 1^st March 2017 that the US officials will never convene direct talks with the Taliban. It has been made clear during many peace talk sessions that without drafting a clear & final foreign troops withdrawal schedule, any chance to achieve peace will be slim. The US backed Afghan government tries to split Taliban to various factions and claim that there are some other armed groups, which are more stronger than the Taliban. The Afghan government is willing to make any peace compromise with the Taliban, similar to the peace agreement made with Hezb e Islami, headed by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar.

9-    The Afghan government, Taliban, regional & international players have each got a specific definition for peace. As far as the Afghan peace process is concerned, each player is trying to push its own agenda & achieve its set goals.

The above few points have complicated the ongoing peace process.

The following points will summarize the outlook for peace in Afghanistan;

1. If the Afghan ongoing civil war is not ceased, it may develop to a Syrian style conflict. It seems likely that America wants to somehow control & monitor Pakistan nuclear weapons, while Pakistan also paves the way for further involvement of United States & international community. The Punjabi ethnics of Pakistan consider Baluchi residents to be their enemies, while Pashtuns are also now labeled the harsh enemies of Punjabi people.
2. Empowering ISIS group in Afghanistan is another topic, which a potential point of anxiety for Russia, China & Iran. These three countries are deeply concerned that ISIS fighters in Iraq & Syria may move to the northern & eastern Afghanistan, where they may pose a serious security threat for them.
3. Both sides, Taliban & the Afghan government, are bracing for warmer weather conditions to intensify the spring offensive & operations against each other.
4. Nor the Taliban, neither the Afghan government has got a clear peace policy. The Afghan peace process has come to a standstill.
5. If the Taliban are not victimized for the sake of peace and they do not think of alternative ways, then it is possible that Afghanistan may once again engulf in a similar civil war, like in 1990s.
6. America, Pakistan & Afghan government are trying their best to encourage Taliban, so that they could agree and resume the ceased dialogue of the quartet talks.
7. Some Afghan politicians still prefer the latest Moscow six-party talks, but such talks should bring together envoys of Taliban, US & other diplomats in the future.
8. It seems that the war in Afghanistan will go on, as United States is willing to extend the ongoing conflict in the region. The Afghan officials would like to encourage Taliban leaders to surrender under the name of peace settlement with the government. It all comes while the Taliban are persistently saying that the foreign troops should get out of the country, so that they could end the war.
9. The Afghan war is going on for the last 40 years. If multiple attempts are not made to achieve a real peace, then more Afghan youth will fall the victims of the continuing war.
10. I am afraid that more & more kids & adults will be victimized if a true peace is not made. If any faction & player make a progress in the ongoing war, then the benefit will go the pockets of United States or Russia at the international level, but on the regional level, India & Pakistan will benefit more. Iran will definitely milk the ongoing war by cultural & religious means. My advice to every Afghan national is to work wholeheartedly & tirelessly for peace and block any source or individual that may put hurdles on the way to peace.

Keeping my fingers crossed for a peaceful & lovely Afghanistan…

Gordon Duff

Gordon Duff posted articles on VT from 2008 to 2022. He is a Marine combat veteran of the Vietnam War. A disabled veteran, he worked on veterans and POW issues for decades.

Gordon is an accredited diplomat and is generally accepted as one of the top global intelligence specialists. He manages the world’s largest private intelligence organization and regularly consults with governments challenged by security issues.

Duff has traveled extensively, is published around the world, and is a regular guest on TV and radio in more than “several” countries. He is also a trained chef, wine enthusiast, avid motorcyclist, and gunsmith specializing in historical weapons and restoration. Business experience and interests are in energy and defense technology.

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