June 10, 2018

Peace gets an ultimate chance in Afghanistan

located:	Afghanistan
editor:	Shadi Khan Saif

May the overwhelming joy erupted in Afghanistan, following the unprecedented ceasefire announcement by the Afghan government – and later positively responded by the Taliban – prove eternal with lasting peace in the conflict-stricken country.

To many, President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani’s bold initiative to offer unprecedented, unconditional and unilateral ceasefire for up to eight days in the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, seemed absurd and politically motivated. Yet the call to ceasefire, together with a coherent condemnation coming from the country's religious scholars, seems to have worked in favour of temporary peace. 

With the Taliban also declaring ceasefire – although it has not presented this move for peace as a response to the President’s offer for oblivious reputation reasons – the ground seems to have been paved once again for resumption of the stalled peace process. The armed rebels on Saturday announced a temporary three-day truce for the forthcoming Muslim holy festival of Eid, however, vowing to continue to target the foreign troops in the country.

This situation can well serve as a stepping stone for broader Afghan-led and Afghan-owned dialogue for peace, in line with democratic principles and sincere desire to end the lingering bloodbath across the country.

There are diverse groups within the Taliban who might not agree to shun violence. There might also be internal political groups fearing for their future life if truce is reached with the Taliban. There are also global as well as regional forces on both sides of the conflict driving their own agendas. But the Afghans need to rise above all petty issues and unite for the sacred cause of long lasting peace.

After years, in fact decades, of trying to win through war, it has become apparent that fighting would only lead the Afghans away from peace. If they want to rebuild their beautiful country; a country that desperately needs to catch-up with the rest of the world in terms of education, health and other basic services, they should engage in a grand process to end all internal wars and brace for a new era of harmony in the heart of Asia.