Afghan peace talks began rapidly after the collapse of the Taliban regime in December 2001. In its early stages the peace talks lacked a comprehensive and inclusive design as well as a clear structure. It was not a top priority for the Afghan government nor for the US led international forces. However, the process took a serious phase in recent years as the Taliban reemerged and the security situation entered a critical stage. The process has traversed a fluctuating path to this day not yielding decisive results. This paper explores why the peace talks process has not been successful and or less effective? What factors explain the unfruitfulness of the peace negotiations between the Afghan government and the Taliban?
The major stakeholders …show more content…
A majority of Afghans support holding peace talks with the Taliban. Despite minor disparities, a large majority of the public are in favor of ending the ongoing conflict. Thus, there is strong support throughout Afghan society for a negotiated peace, “the sentiment is particularly strong within the Pashtun population, but it is also the majority view among other ethnic groups” (Shinn and Dobbins 5). The Afghan government established a venue that will serve as a primary institution to pursue peace talks with anti-government armed insurgents throughout the country. The institution is called High Peace Council (HPC). It was “established on the basis of the recommendations of the National consultative Peace Jirga [assembly] held in October 2010 with provincial sub-offices” (hpc.org.af). The organization lacks a comprehensive and well-structured policy for negotiations. Instead, it operates with a general view of finding any possible ways to persuade any anti-government elements to give up violence, accept the constitution of the country and join the current political …show more content…
But as the talks were in progress, Baradar was arrested by the Pakistani officials who were afraid any deal will lose their influence over the Taliban. Pakistani officials systematically denied the existence of the Taliban leadership in Pakistani territory and the detention of Mullah Baradar (Boon et al 447). The Afghan government continuously requested members of the international community, in particular the United States to facilitate a peace deal with Taliban and pressure Pakistan to cooperate. These efforts accumulated in finding an official address for the Taliban as starting point for negotiation. Both the US officials and Afghan officials attempted to create an address for the Taliban outside the Pakistani influence which can serve as a negotiation venue for peace talks and prisoner exchange between US and the Taliban. Thus, Taliban were given permission by the Qatar government to open an office in Doha, the capital of Qatar. Opening of the office was an initiative by “the Afghan government and its Western backers as a confidence-building measure, and as a way of providing security for Taliban leaders
The major stakeholders …show more content…
A majority of Afghans support holding peace talks with the Taliban. Despite minor disparities, a large majority of the public are in favor of ending the ongoing conflict. Thus, there is strong support throughout Afghan society for a negotiated peace, “the sentiment is particularly strong within the Pashtun population, but it is also the majority view among other ethnic groups” (Shinn and Dobbins 5). The Afghan government established a venue that will serve as a primary institution to pursue peace talks with anti-government armed insurgents throughout the country. The institution is called High Peace Council (HPC). It was “established on the basis of the recommendations of the National consultative Peace Jirga [assembly] held in October 2010 with provincial sub-offices” (hpc.org.af). The organization lacks a comprehensive and well-structured policy for negotiations. Instead, it operates with a general view of finding any possible ways to persuade any anti-government elements to give up violence, accept the constitution of the country and join the current political …show more content…
But as the talks were in progress, Baradar was arrested by the Pakistani officials who were afraid any deal will lose their influence over the Taliban. Pakistani officials systematically denied the existence of the Taliban leadership in Pakistani territory and the detention of Mullah Baradar (Boon et al 447). The Afghan government continuously requested members of the international community, in particular the United States to facilitate a peace deal with Taliban and pressure Pakistan to cooperate. These efforts accumulated in finding an official address for the Taliban as starting point for negotiation. Both the US officials and Afghan officials attempted to create an address for the Taliban outside the Pakistani influence which can serve as a negotiation venue for peace talks and prisoner exchange between US and the Taliban. Thus, Taliban were given permission by the Qatar government to open an office in Doha, the capital of Qatar. Opening of the office was an initiative by “the Afghan government and its Western backers as a confidence-building measure, and as a way of providing security for Taliban leaders