Daily Times

The US special envoy for Afghan reconciliation has set a deadline for peace: April 2019. A date significant in as much as that this is when the incumbent Ashraf Ghani will seek presidential re-election. It also indicates that political settlement to the 17-year conflict will not take precedence over democracy’s trappings.

This may ultimately prove to be a misstep. No confirmation on the question of American exit from the country has been forthcoming. Ditto when it comes to progress on the Taliban’s list of demands; including prisoner releases. Instead, Zalmay Khalilzad has once more reiterated calls for a ceasefire to facilitate ongoing talks. This has been rejected by the Taliban on the grounds that the other side has to also give a little. What therefore emerges is the picture of yet another US-driven timetable with little consideration for ground realities.

There have been reports of increased whispering in both Washington elite circles and within the Taliban themselves that quietly support a delay in presidential elections and the setting up of an interim government to oversee the reconciliation process; under the stewardship of an impartial figure. Though there has been no official word on this. Aside from the Taliban statement to the contrary. That being said, it is difficult to see how this impasse is to be broken. For this is exactly what it is. Admittedly, the fact that the US is talking directly to the militant group is a enormous breakthrough. But what comes next? On that front the Americans are reverting to script: polls must go ahead on time because the Constitution demands it; while the Ghani government enjoys popular backing and remains the internationally-recognised power centre in Kabul. Which is all well and good except that this represents a tried-and-failed approach.

Thus all sides — the US, the Afghan regime and the Taliban — may do well to consider rescheduling the April 2019 deadline; indeed, the latter have already termed it as being too tight a timeframe. And with it the ballot. We, here at Daily Times, say this not to undermine the political process in a neighbouring sovereign country. But, rather, to point out that this would afford the Afghan people time to have their say on internal Taliban demands. These include the full imposition of Sharia law, keeping control of the southern provinces as well as changing the Constitution. Thereby raising serious questions about the fate of women and minorities under a mainstreamed Taliban. Naturally, this is something for Afghans to navigate. But it will take time. For lasting peace cannot be hurried in a rush of unpalatable compromises. As everyone who is party to the conflict know only too well.

President Ghani is adamant that elections will go ahead come what may. To be sure, there are those that support the democratic process as a starting point for peace and stability; firm in the belief that without this only chaos is left. Yet democracy is designed to serve the people. Not to perpetuate an individual’s grip on power. And in this case, it must be about nation building. Meaning, the state itself cannot be seen as an obstacle to reconciliation measures that will only strengthen its own institutions in the long-term.  *

Published in Daily Times, November 20^th 2018.