It’s no easy task to have the Taliban on table for peace talks. It is observed that the Quadrilateral Coordination Group (QCG) comprising Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and the US has been framed for the resumption of peace talks. Up till now four meetings have taken place; two in Islamabad and two in Kabul that commenced from January 2016. Although there has been no clean sign of the Taliban participation, it has been a source of push for reconciliation.
Moreover, the turning point became visible when on April 11 the Taliban announced their spring offensive, Operation Omari, to carry out suicide attacks and control more territory in Afghanistan. On April 19, the Taliban carried the heinous attacks in Kabul that resulted in 64 deaths and about 350 injuries, making it the deadliest strike in the Afghan capital since 2001.
The spring offensive not only weakened QCG’s work-frame, but it also shook Pakistan-Afghanistan relations. And Afghan citizens, who are the very old victims of abysmal circumstances, often make their way to Europe and Pakistan. This causes problems for both Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Afghanistan believes that the Taliban are operating from Pakistan. President Ashraf Ghani even stated that what Pakistan was doing seem no enough to eradicate terrorism. Irrespective of Pakistan’s participation in bringing the Taliban to the table for peace talks, such statement by Ghani reflected no good.
What makes it uncertain are the different demands by the Afghan government and the Taliban. The latter demand the recognition of Qatar office as their official political office for peace talks, release of prisoners, and complete withdrawal of US troops.
Reuters reports that US General John Nicholson, who took over as commander of international troops in Afghanistan last month, conducted strategic review, including plans to cut the US troops from 9,800 to 5,500 by the end of the year. There is no complete withdrawal. On the other hand Afghan government wants condition-free peace talks.
The need of the time is a more sensitive diplomatic dealing and avoiding blame game. The better way forward is reaching out to the successful peace talk, which is yet to bear fruit.