Daily Times

What was the need for a violent reaction on the part of the US if the goal was to create an environment for peace and to end the long war that was needlessly imposed by the US on Afghanistan?

Pakistan has urged the United States and Afghanistan to keep their eyes open after 27 people were killed and 29 wounded in an attack on Afghan leader Abdullah Abdullah in Kabul. Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that there were anti-peace elements in and outside Afghanistan and they needed to be defeated. The US and other global powers need to be alert. The Taliban have denied any involvement in it.

After nearly two decades of war, the United States and the Taliban choose peace. Taliban’s entourage’s leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar expressed full commitment to agreement by his side. He acknowledged Pakistan’s assistance and support in making the deal a reality and success. Foreign Minister Qureshi said that Pakistan has a central role in Afghan peace agreement signed in Doha, Qatar. The agreementis expected to pave the way for complete withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan.

The signing of the Doha peace deal will open the way to intra-Afghan talks between the Taliban and Afghan stakeholders, including the country’s west-backed government. Those talks could take months due to divisions between President Ashraf Ghani and others over the key issues. United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that the agreement was the true test of the efforts to give peace a chance. He said that it would ensure that Afghanistan never becomes a base of terrorists again. He also said that reduction in violence in not perfect, but at least the Taliban have demonstrated that when they have the will to be peaceful, they can be. Pompeo appreciated the US Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad who has played a critical role in making the negotiations successful. Pompeo also urged the Taliban to sit with the Afghan government to determine the course for future of Afghanistan.

Some sources believe that intra-Afghan talks may be much more complicated. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan has welcomed the Doha peace agreement. The government of Pakistan has warned all concerned to be aware ofspoilsports. Effort for peace must continue until desired results have been achieved. Peace in Afghanistan means peace and progress in Pakistan and the region. There is also an earnest desire that Afghan refugees should return to their homes.

US President Donald Trump seems to be serious about getting out of a needlessly long war in Afghanistan. He told reporters in Washington that he had a “very good” relationship with the Taliban political chief Mullah Baradar; they spoke on the phone for more than half an hour. “The relationship is very good that I have with the mullah. We had a good long conversation today and you know, they want to cease the violence, they would like to cease violence also.” Trump touted the Doha deal as a way to end the18-year-long US military presence in Afghanistan. It is right in time for his November re-election bid.

On the other hand, the US military launched an airstrike. The US retaliated as the Taliban killed 20 Afghan army and police personnel. “We call on the Taliban to stop the needless attacks,” US Afghanistan forces spokesman Sonny Leggett said. This came hours after President Trump had spoken abouthis “very good” chat with the political representative of the Taliban after the historical Doha agreement.

There are many a slip twixt the cup and the lip. Things in such a bloody situation are difficult to predict. The fault is obviously on both sides. What was the need for a violent reaction on the part of the US if the goal was to create an environment for peace and to end the long war that was needlessly imposed by Americans on Afghanistan, on one pretext or the other? All those things had no justification for destabilising this region and add to the worries of the already poor and depressed people.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has approved a probe into war crimes in Afghanistan. Judges will look into possible crimes by the United States army, Taliban militants and the Afghan forces. Pompeo described the court’s decision as a “truly breathtaking action.” When it comes to the Unites States army and intelligence personnel why should the ICC be given the label “an unaccountable political institution”?No, Secretary Pompeo,let us think of justice and fair play, the difference between peace and war, and the need for equity and merit. Hate politics leads to war. Peace and war are two different domains. Enemies of humanity and war criminals must be brought to book. War is not an instrument of peace. It is simply a way to satisfy one’s greed and to go on adding to monopolies that damage the mankind.

The ICC’s ruling comes days after Taliban militants killed at least 20 Afghan soldiers andpolicemen in a string of overnight attacks, throwing the country’s nascent peace process into grave doubt. What is essential right now is to prepare for intra-Afghan negotiations, including practical and tangible discussions on important issues such as release of prisoners. The road ahead is difficult. This should motivate all sides to demonstrate patience and hard work, leaving aside differences, prejudices and hate politics. There is need for wisdom and leadership to arrive at peace and stability. Conversations are the way to resolve conflicts and get to the desired goals. War and hate politics are not the solution of problems and issues.

OIC members are united on Kashmir, and that is one positive news that has come to our attention. Islamabad has expectations from the OIC. India has crossed all limits in the occupied Kashmir; Pakistan seeks an extraordinary session on Kashmir. Afghanistan and Kashmir present a worrisome scenario. President Trump is aware of the situation; he has offered several times to negotiate on Kashmir. The OIC demands that India must revoke its August 5, 2019 steps in Jammu and Kashmir. Indian government cannot be allowed to colonise Kashmir. It can’t be allowed to violate international laws. Turkish President Erdogan and many other world leaders have denounced the massacres committed against Muslims in India.

The writer is the former director of National Institute of Administration (NIPA), Government of Pakistan