Editorial: Afghan solution Thursday, 02 February 2012 01:33

A statement from the Taliban yesterday that they had no plan to hold peace talks with the Karzai government in Saudi Arabia is welcome and will help quash rumours about concerns in Kabul about the planned American-Taliban peace talks brokered by Qatar. The government of Hamid Karzai is reported to be peeved at being left out of these talks, and is said to have launched its own efforts to talk peace with Taliban.

In the past few weeks, the main news on Afghanistan has been that America and Taliban are willing to talk to find a negotiated solution to the insurgency. Qatar is playing a significant role in these efforts by letting Taliban open an office in Doha, and becoming a mediator between the two sides. The fact that Taliban has expressed its willingness to talk to its foes is seen as a major achievement and an opportunity that should not be missed and reports that the Afghan government is making parallel efforts to talk to the Taliban had caused confusion and concern about the efficacy of US-Taliban talks.

“There is no truth in the published reports saying that the delegation of the Islamic Emirate would meet with representatives of the Karzai government in Saudi Arabia in the near future,” the Taliban said on their website. Afghan officials too have said that no steps had been taken to start talks in Saudi Arabia.

The Taliban also said they had not yet “reached the negotiation phase with the US and its allies”. This could be true, because the talks held so far can be classified as ‘preliminary’ which can set the stage for more serious, detailed talks.

Despite the Taliban statement yesterday, there were reports in the media that the Karzai government is not sufficienty involved in the Qatar-mediated talks. If that’s true, there is a need to make up for the lapses. For that to happen, the Karzai government must shed its inhibitions about associating with Qatar, if there is any. No one can doubt the sincerity and good intentions of Qatar in the mediation role it has undertaken so far, and as the negotiations make further progress, Doha will be capable of persuading the government in Kabul to join the talks in full force. A solution to the Afghan issue is unthinkable without the wholehearted support of Karzai government and the time has for all parties, including the Nato, Taliban, the Afghan government and Pakistan to realise that continued bloodshed and uncertainty will make no side a victor.

The road to peace in Afghanistan is riddled with potholes. Only determination and genuine desire to reach the destination can bring success and minor snags on the road can derail the journey.