2020 by the Young Diplomats Society

I s P e a c e F i n a l l y I n
S i g h t f o r
A f g h a n i s t a n ?
Faseeha Hashmi (22 SEPT)
In a bid to end the two-decade protracted war, a definitive
peace process is finally underway in the landlocked country of
Afghanistan. Acknowledging the co-signing of a peace
agreement between the Taliban and the US, there remains a
considerable way to go in achieving lasting peace with the
Taliban in a post-conflict Afghanistan. With Washington’s
impending withdrawal, the question arises as to how the
Afghan government will manifest a power-sharing
arrangement with the Taliban.
The current administration in Kabul faces numerous
challenges to its legitimacy that extend beyond the Taliban.
Indeed, settling the score amongst competing political actors
demonstrates a treacherous path forward. The future of
Afghanistan hangs in the balance. What exactly will it take for
peace to become a reality for the Afghani people, or are current
peace efforts doomed to falter?
The achievement of peace in Afghanistan has been a long time
coming, and the Withdrawal Accord represents the most
significant achievement to end the conflict to date. Now, more
than ever, the path forward requires ongoing international
attention and support. It is hoped that a political arrangement
between Kabul and the Taliban can be sorted out before the
complete withdrawal of US troops. However, this process has
been further complicated by additional Taliban requests for the
withdrawal of all US military advisers from the country. Once
the dust settles and American election has taken place in
November, at least the American administration's commitment
will be clarified moving forward.
The US has a checkered history with the Taliban. Beginning in
2001, Washington invaded Afghanistan in pursuit of the
international terrorist organisation, Al-Qaeda. The main
insurgent group fighting against the Afghan government and
coalition forces, known as the “students,” then granted
sanctuary to Al-Qaeda and its now-deceased former leader
Osama Bin Laden.
Following years of fighting, diplomatic and peace efforts
intensified in 2018 between the Taliban and Washington. These
efforts gave rise to the US-Taliban deal, officially signed on 29
February 2020 in Qatar's capital, Doha. Under the Agreement
for Bringing Peace to Afghanistan (also known as the
“Withdrawal Accord”), Washington agreed to discontinue all US
and coalition operations in Afghanistan within the following 14
months. In return, Taliban leaders have committed a reduction
in armed violence and pledged not to cooperate with terrorist
organisations such as Al-Qaeda. In addition, to encourage the
key players to the Accord, a prisoner swap was incorporated as
part of the deal. While these exchanges have helped to propel
dialogue, the promises made by the Taliban to meet those
goals have been vague and it has been difficult to ensure
compliance.
As the Accord’s name suggests, the government of Afghanistan
is not a party to it. Woefully, this constitutes a missing and
crucial ingredient to long-term peace. Open dialogue between
the Afghan government and the Taliban in a power-sharing
arrangement is a necessity. Therefore, the intra-Afghan
dialogue is fundamental as both sides must continue to coexist
in a post-US exodus era. This will require the arrangement of a
permanent and comprehensive ceasefire between the warring
sides. However, there are no publicly available details on how
such a roadmap will materialise.
Acknowledging the role of the US as one of the main actors in
this conflict, it is essential that Washington provides continuing
assistance to ensure Afghanistan’s long-term socio-economic
development. At some point, negotiations between Kabul and
the Taliban must be made concerning the fate of Afghanistan
moving forward. The long-fought achievements of women’s
empowerment, freedom of speech, and freedom of expression
must not be compromised - forlornly, representing
attainments paid for in American and Afghan blood.
Fortunately, in December, it will also soon be winter in
Afghanistan, therefore there are higher chances of dialogue,
making war less feasible. Irrespective of the current situation,
the desire of the Afghan people to live in peace and harmony
should not be underestimated, and the achievement of peace
in Afghanistan must remain the focus of all parties. Despite
decades of continuous conflict, the resilience and
determination of the Afghan people continue to shine through.
To this end, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has boldly declared
that failure is “not an option.”