(MENAFN- Afghanistan Times) By Farhad Naibkhel
KABUL: Riling over vulnerability of the situation in
Afghanistan with taking under consideration the peace opportunity that has been
created after long years to end war, a number of political pundits who
participated in Rana Think Tank monthly session argued that to overcome current
insecurity, the latest peace opportunity—that knocks the doors once, must not
go away.
They called on the government not to let opportunity for
peace to be washed away; also asked the Afghan masses to get advantage from it
as with peace there would be durable stability and prosperity.
Finally, peace is within grasp, the political analysts said,
hinting toward 16 days Qatar talks between US peace envoy and Taliban
negotiating team that recently ended with some progress on counterterrorism
efforts, troop's withdrawal and some other issues.
They called the recent dialogues between them an opportunity
to be used as a clue to end 18 years long war in the country.
Touching upon peace process that according to them, world
and regional countries favoring it, they called on the government to avoid
creating barriers in front of this process.
Afghan masses, Taliban and the US have been pressing for
peace, so this must not be spoiled through one or another channels, they asked the
government.
They allegedly that the national unity government is
hell-bent on sabotaging the peace process in a bid to secure their lasting
powers. Political figures say that peace is a long-term dream for all the Afghans
so the peace opportunity must be used properly as a tool to political
settlement to end the years long conflict.
When US made its mind to continue political dialogues and find
a political settlement for Afghanistan's conflict where already there is some
progress, so the government should not disrupt the process, said a political
analyst, Barna Karimi, who also served in key government posts during former
government, including once as Afghanistan ambassador to Canada.
'Instead to be against the process, the government officials
should have come to the fore and use it as an opportunity to achieve a durable
peace and stability,' he said.
According to him, if peace prevails during current
government, this would be an astonishing and great pride for its officials
rather than to be in power for ten more times.
He said in case of negligence from government side, the
political and national figures would step up efforts with sole reason to end
the war.
Terming Moscow peace talks as a positive step held between
Taliban and Afghan political figures—a kind of first intra-Afghan talks, he
said this team would depart to Qatar soon, and the government must introduce a
new peace team to be acceptable for all, to join the political figures in talks
with Taliban.
Protecting fundamental rights of citizens and the republic
system is the principle to be seriously considered during talks with the
Taliban, he said.
So far all the talks that happened between US and Taliban
were issues related to their problems with preserving their interests, he said,
adding now other sides of the coin, which is intra-Afghan talks to protect
Afghanistan's interests, would be kicked off.
'There is an immediate need to be involved in the peace
efforts and bring end to war inside the country.'
He furthered; 'We need a consensus of political and national
figures to sit in talks with the US, and the Taliban group to safeguard and
defend from national interests of the country.'
However, he lamented that unfortunately the peace process
changed to a political phenomenon rather than to a national process.
Coming up with an example, saying some figures say we 'want
peace', but stream with some conditions that contain some personnel demands.
Hinting toward Taliban flexibility, he said there is visible
change in Taliban's ideology toward ending war.
Another participant, Wahidullah Shahrani, who was former
Minister to the Mine and Industry Ministry, said the National Unity Government should
stop creating obstacles ahead of peace process, rather use this opportunity to
reach peace.
He said the government should have introduced new peace delegations
comprised of national figures to be acceptable for all to participants of the
peace process. 'This should be through a national frame.'
However, he emphasized over fundamental rights of the citizens
and republic system to be protected during dialogues with the Taliban.
He said that International Community, European Union, and
the regional countries must guarantee the peace process in order to have a
lasting peace across the country.
The ongoing peace push by US has gained momentum, and
recently Zalamy Khalilzad, US Special Representative for Afghanistan
Reconciliation ended his fifth round of talks with Taliban, where both said
they reached agreement on drafts.
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