Kabul and Washington seem not to be on the same page with regard to the ongoing peace efforts. Since the United States has appointed Zalmay Khalilzad as its special envoy for Afghanistan’s reconciliation process, the President Ashraf Ghani-led government has embraced questionable stances on several occasions. While Khalilzad is reportedly trying to reach a peace deal with the Taliban before the presidential election in April 2019, Afghan government says it will take at least five years to achieve peace. This stance by the government leadership, especially the President Ghani, is a response to a possibility that Washington may push Kabul to postpone the presidential election for the sake of the success of peace talks. Following the reports, the Independent Election Commission (IEC) announced the presidential election timetable. Moreover, the make-up of the team appointed by the government to negotiate peace with the Taliban is also questionable. A majority of the members of the team is individuals who cannot be expected to hold successful talks with the Taliban.
In a recent interview with an American media outlet, the envoy warned Afghan officials and politicians to support the ongoing peace talks and not expect American support and the United States to stay in Afghanistan forever. Besides some circles who oppose peace talks with the Taliban because their partisan or personal interests will be threatened, Khalilzad’s statements may have also meant for President Ghani who is viewed as the closest Afghan politician to the United States, and has never taken anti-American stance, and even kept silent on Afghan civilian deaths caused by American airstrikes and operations.
Peace is a number one priority for Afghans. Except a handful of individuals whose interests would be threatened in peace and justice, all Afghans, including the warring sides, want the ongoing tragic conflict to end. Any statements and movement against peace is an enmity with Afghan people. Whosoever, including the president, is creating barriers to the ongoing talks for a peaceful settlement of the war in Afghanistan under whatever pretexts should not forget the judgment of history and wrath of people. Peace is in the interest of the nation and whoever claim to be representing people should seek their interests in those of the nation.
