The signing of a peace deal between the government of Afghanistan and one of the notorious warlords, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, can be a termed a breakthrough amid ongoing bloodshed in the war-torn Afghanistan. A former prime minister, Hekmatyar was a prominent anti-Soviet commander in the 1980s and stands accused of killing thousands of people in Kabul from 1992 to 1996, a period when various Mujahedeen factions fought each other for supremacy and which ended when the Taliban emerged victorious.
The US has welcomed the truce with Hekmatyar while a large number of people in Kabul and human rights groups have castigated the peace deal. Reportedly, under the agreement, the government will offer Hekmatyar legal immunity in “all past political and military proceedings” as well as release Hizb-e-Islami prisoners. Hekmatyar is designated a global terrorist by the US and is blacklisted by the UN. The Afghan government will likely work towards lifting those restrictions in order to reintegrate him into local politics as well as provide him security.
It can be termed a first step towards reconciliation with fighting militants that could further pave way for getting the Taliban engaged in peace talks. The ongoing war in Afghanistan is already leaving disastrous effects. It continues to destroy lives due to direct consequences of violence and war-induced breakdown of public health, security, and infrastructure. Civilians are being killed by crossfire, improvised explosive devices, assassinations, bombings, and kidnappings by militants. The continued violence and bloodshed have inflicted heavy casualties upon the Afghan nation. The victimisation of the Afghan people due to persistent insecurity in different parts of the country is really a serious matter and must be dealt as the top priority.
The Afghan government needs to convince other militant groups like the Taliban and the Islamic State to abandon bloodshed. On its part, Pakistan is making efforts to convince the Taliban to join peace talks. Pakistan is making efforts to mediate between the Taliban and Afghan government. Pakistan’s role is critical in bringing peace to war-torn Afghanistan. The involvement of China and the US is also significant as it can help strike a peace deal with the Taliban. Those militants who are ready to quit violence must be engaged in talks while those who are not ready to lay down their arms should be dealt with strictly. Peace is in the interests of all stakeholder countries, the region and the world. Talks remain the only viable solution for the problem of the Afghan insurgency. The process, no matter how fraught or uncertain, must be persisted with for the sake of Afghanistan, Pakistan and the entire region. The only alternative is continuation of war, which is not affordable anymore. In these chaotic developments, peace may look like a real option to all sides, which is why the efforts to revive the peace talks are now underway with other militant groups. This must be welcomed. It is hoped that positive developments would emerge after the latest peace deal with Gulbuddin Hekmatyar. A political settlement in Afghanistan is in the interests of all stakeholder states, and it would also make a positive impact on the regional stability as well as that of the entire continent. http://dailytimes.com.pk/editorial/25-Sep-16/peace–in-afghanistan
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