Like the preceding years, 2018 was also beset by enormous problems and challenges for Afghan people. Although it is now over 17 years that American troops are here in Afghanistan to fight the so-called war on terror, not only has the country not achieved stability but the security situation has also deteriorated with each passing day. Afghan people are neither safe in villages nor cities from the scourge of war and violence, and tens of them continue to lose their lives throughout the country on a daily basis.
Despite all the suffering and challenges the people of Afghanistan experienced in 2018, the year also brought them the first glimmer of light instilling hopes in people for having a bright future. For the first time in several decades, Afghans enjoyed living in peace at least for three days. A three-day, surprise ceasefire over the Eid holiday resuscitated the dimming hopes of Afghan people for peace, and people had a taste of how life in peace looks like. Even though the Taliban’s refusal to extend the truce and the ensuing bloody wave of violence began to shatter hopes for a peaceful settlement of the Afghan conflict, the several rounds of direct US-Taliban talks after the Trump-led US administration appointed Zalmay Khalilzad as its special envoy for Afghan reconciliation salvaged the hopes from dying. Despite Taliban’s rejection to directly talk to Afghan government, the group’s engagement even with Americans was the most positive development in 2018.
Afghanistan has to do major things such as holding the presidential, provincial and district council elections in 2019, but peace should remain the number one priority for the government to try to achieve during the year. All sides in the conflict, the regional powers and the international community should work together to find a logical solution accepted by all sides especially Afghans, to the decades-long Afghan tragedy. The government has to prioritize peace, and the Taliban should also back down on its position not to negotiate with Afghan government. They must realize that they have got no option, but to engage with Afghan government and people. Even if they are able to win a military victory, they will have to engage with Afghans one day or another. If they don’t want to surrender to pressure and use of force, Afghans are also their countrymen and cannot be ruled by force.
