(MENAFN- Daily Outlook Afghanistan) As negotiationsbetween the Taliban and the United States have picked up, India appearsapprehensive about peace deal and had cautioned Washington not to take anyhasty decision on this critical matter, which has huge bearing on peace andsecurity of the South Asian region.
The United States hasheld several rounds of talks with Taliban representatives to reach an agreementso as to end the conflict in Afghanistan. The Indian government has opposedpostponement of presidential election in Afghanistan and supports PresidentMuhammad Ashraf Ghani administration, with which the Taliban are averse ofholding direct negotiations.
India is of theopinion that no decision should be taken in haste to conclude agreement withthe Taliban. The Taliban demand withdrawal of US and other foreign troops fromAfghanistan before any deal is concluded. US Special Representative forAfghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad was in Delhi last month to discusscontours of peace agreement. He tried to ascertain views of India on anyproposed peace agreement.
Khalilzad has arrivedin Doha to hold the seventh round of talks with the Taliban and this roundwould be decisive as the two sides are expected to reach an understanding onwithdrawal of US troops, but the Taliban have to give assurance to end terrorsanctuaries.
The Trumpadministration has put two more conditions to the Taliban for making talkssuccessful, which include ceasefire and direct talks with the Ashraf Ghanigovernment.
The Taliban SpokespersonSuhail Shaheen said the US had agreed on complete troop withdrawal fromAfghanistan and Washington would 'never interfere in Afghanistan affairs.
Nonetheless, US envoymade it clear that troop withdrawal would be part of the comprehensiveagreement and would be implemented when other issues are tackled. Khalilzadreiterated that troop withdrawal would not be executed unless other demands areaccepted. It would be part of a comprehensive peace agreement, which wouldinclude counter-terrorism assurances, intra-Afghan negotiations that would leadto a political settlement, and a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire.
Indian Representativeto the United Nations Syed Akhbaruddin told the Security Council that theTaliban needed to act against terror sanctuaries and safe havens to ensuregenuine and sustainable peace in the region. He said that terrorist activitiesof the Taliban, Haqqani Network, Islamic State (IS), as well as Al Qaeda andits proscribed affiliates, including the Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed,had to be ended. Syed Akhbaruddin said that shutting down terror sanctuariesmust be a precondition for the peace deal to go forward. Intra-Afghan dialogueis also an essential element of the peace deal.
Regional stakeholders,including India, China, and Pakistan, have vowed to support intra-Afghandialogue. Meeting with President Ghani on the sidelines of Shanghai CooperationOrganization summit, held in the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek last week, ChinesePresident Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed supportfor the Afghan-led peace process.
It is believed that ifthe Taliban insist on the US troop pullout and hold out against negotiatingwith the Afghan government, the seventh round of talks will not yield apositive outcome, either. Subsequently, the two sides will seek to haggle overtheir demands and preconditions in the next round of talks.
Declaring his strategyfor Afghanistan and South Asia in August 2017, US President Donald Trumppointed out a highly significant issue as he said that 'the consequences of arapid exit are both predictable and unacceptable adding that 'a hastywithdrawal would create a vacuum for terrorists, including ISIS and Al Qaeda.Hence, taking a hasty decision on troop pullout will put the regional securityat stake.
Clear picture aboutfuture of Afghanistan will emerge only after Doha talks as many critical andimportant issues are being discussed and finalized. The Taliban need to acceptdemand of entering into talks with the Afghan government which they haveresisted so far. Since the US and Taliban representatives are unlikely to reacha peace deal without the presence of the Afghan government, regionalstakeholders need to use their leverage to bring the Taliban to the negotiatingtable with the Kabul government.
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