There is an unprecedented, golden opportunity available for peace in Afghanistan after experiencing decades of destructive conflict. Nearly all domestic and foreign sides to the war now acknowledge that the ongoing war in the country has no military solution. It is a major step forward as the superpowers viewed Afghanistan as a theater of military muscle-flexing with each other besides Afghan sides that believed violence and use of force was the only means to take over power. The United States sought to avenge its embarrassing defeat in Vietnam on the former Soviet Union, while Kabul also suffered from spillover effects of the rivalry of Pakistan and India over the issue of Kashmir. By and large, Afghanistan was burned for four decades in the fire triggered and fueled by the conflicting interests and rivalries of global and regional powers.
Now that the United States has shown readiness to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan, there is a golden opportunity to restore peace in the country, as foreign military presence has been viewed as one of the main reasons for the war, or at least the militants describe it as the major factor for their fight in the country which regional powers also use as a pretext to maintain relations with the Taliban. All sides involved in the Afghan conflict particularly Afghans need to grab the opportunity. There is no doubt that finding common grounds between the warring sides as well as a solution to the long-running, complex conflict is difficult but not impossible. Now that hopes are ever high among Afghans for the peaceful settlement of the war, Afghan sides must concentrate on finding common grounds than spark differences. Despite the prolonged war, Afghan sides still have many things in common that can bring them closer to each other, thereby paving the way for gradual peace and stability.
Achieving peace may not be easy, but it is not difficult than continued war for either side. Instead of insistence on violence and bloodshed, they should try to show flexibility in achieving a political solution. The Taliban must moderate their stance on negotiations with Afghan government, and join intra-Afghan dialogue as early as possible, of which the government is also the main party. Similarly, the government also should not embrace a position that can derail the ongoing peace talks. Whichever side allows the peace talks to fail, history will remember and judge it as disgraced. Therefore, Afghan sides must not forget the judgment of Afghan nation and history, and should play a constructive than destructive role in peace process.
