Jirgagai supports reconciliation

The POST, Sun, Nov,02, 2008.

Pervaiz Iqbal Cheema

The announcement at the end of recently held mini Jirga (Jirgagai) consisting of Pakistani and Afghan representative that it supports the idea of reconciliation is indeed a welcome step. The Jirgagai decided to seek dialogue with Taliban. The announcement was part of the Islamabad declaration that was issued at the end of Jirgagai. ‘It was agreed that contacts should be established with the opposition in both countries’, said the former Afghan foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah-the leader of Afghan side.

In question-answer session that followed the press briefings after the conclusion of Jirgagai, it was highlighted that both government have been advised to deny sanctuaries to terrorists and militant elements which are viewed as threat to the integrity of both countries. It was also decided to establish a committee of prominent individuals to initiate contacts with the opposition groups.

Reports are also indicating that even the Americans have changed their mind and are seriously considering having talks with Taliban. It may not be out order here to mention that not only the Americans expressed strong dislike for negotiations with the Taliban in not too distant past but also disapproved Pakistan’s efforts to have talks with the militants and Taliban.

While the realization to initiate a dialogue seems to be growing, the Taliban has firmly and swiftly rejected Jirgagai’s call for dialogue. ‘We will not hold any dialogue while foreign troops commanded by the Americans are in our country’, said the Taliban spokesman Zabilullah Mujahid. However it is an also well known fact that not only the former Taliban officials and current Afghan government officials held talks in Saudi Arabia but also efforts are being undertaken to have a dialogue between the Tehrik-e-Tliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Pakistani officials.

Undoubtedly the idea of negotiations appears to be the product of realization that neither side can militarily solve the problem. Therefore an alternative course needs to be employed. It all began with the British diplomatic and army officials’ rethinking to re-evaluate the war in Afghanistan and began to put forward new ideas. It is not surprising for any one that during the initial stages, all sides tend to start the dialogue from a position of strength. Taliban’s assertion that they would consider dialogue a real possibility once the foreign troops leave their country is quite comprehensible.

One way out is that the Americans announce their timetable of withdrawal from Afghanistan while NATO troops minus the American could stay little longer. Such an announcement may induce the Taliban to make initial contact for a dialogue. However what they are looking for is the assurance that the foreign troops would eventually leave. Taliban consider that their country has been occupied by foreign forces.

For the foreign forces the quick replacement by recently trained Afghan force could provide the necessary way out. This means that the efforts should be accelerated to train the Afghan National Army (ANA) on a war footing. It can be safely assumed that the Taliban could and would be reconciled with the replacement of foreign troops by ANA troops.

Since the foreign forces came to Afghanistan with the blessings of the UN, it is somewhat imperative that the UN tries to get the regional countries also involved. The way to get them involved is to hold an international conference in which efforts should be made to evolve a consensus regional approach. The conference must invite countries like China, Russia, Iran, India, and Pakistan along with representatives of the UN and NATO.

Not only the above mentioned countries have interest in the stability of Afghanistan but some of them are already engaged in helping Afghanistan in its reconstructive program. The involvement of these stake holders could accelerate not just the peace process but could also have the desired impact on the developmental activities in Afghanistan.

Undoubtedly the Afghan people have suffered far too long and it is imperative that the international community makes concerted efforts to relieve them from this straightjacket of misery and uncertainty. In so doing the international community would also be get rid of rising menace of terrorism or at least contain it. Admittedly it is not going to be easy task but the need to express international community’s resolve is could help.

The advent of Loi Jurga and subsequent Jirgagai are viewed by most Afghans with positive vibes. Even the Taliban are unlikely to dismiss such efforts. While the decision to make contact with the opposition is encouraging, the efforts should focus on early implementation of the decisions of the Jirgagai.

The main hurdle in Afghanistan appears to be the existing lack of insufficient contact between the Afghan Taliban and the Karazai regime. It can be safely assumed that both parties are now yearning for peace but the presence of foreign troops is impeding the desired progress. So it is imperative that one should find a way out of this dilemma and the panacea can only be found if the two sides begin to talk to each other.

The committee established by Jirgagai should initiate its work as soon as possible. Once the contact is established, then how to remove the known hurdles can be focused upon. After almost 30 years of war and turmoil, the quest for peace is bound to acquire urgency. Time has come not only to break the shackles of war and instability and pave the way for desired peace. There is no doubt in the minds of many concerned that a collective approach could influence the parties involved and accelerate the advent of peace in the region. In this connection it is necessary to influence the regional countries to play not just a positive but an active role paving the way for an early advent of peace in the region.

The writer works for Islamabad Policy research Institute.