The repeated failures of efforts aimed at resolving the Afghan conflict through negotiations over the last two decades not only have eaten away at the public’s trust in the peace process but widened the trust deficit between the warring sides, too. Several times since 2009, Afghan peace talks reached a point that would offer a glimmer of hope in the war-battered country for a peaceful settlement of the conflict, but each time the aspirations of Afghan people have turned into despair. Moreover, the successive collapse of peace talks has rendered parties to the conflict deeply distrustful of each other’s intentions. To bridge the trust deficit, all sides have to take confidence-building measures, one of which is a ceasefire.
Unconfirmed reports suggest that a senior three-member Taliban delegation based in Qatar has visited Pakistan following the insistence of American negotiators on the reduction of violence in Doha talks. The objective of the delegation’s visit is to consult with their leadership about a possible ceasefire in Afghanistan, with some reports even indicating that Taliban leaders have shown willingness for a short-term armistice.
Truce is crucial for the success of peace talks because the continuation of war can create many pretexts for all sides during peace talks which can prompt them to pull out of the talks. Any attack or military action by any party to the conflict or the saboteurs can complicate and even scuttle the peace process. Although the Taliban had not reached a ceasefire deal with Americans, US President Donald Trump called off the US-Taliban peace talks citing a Taliban-claimed suicide attack in Kabul, thereby suspending the process for several months. To build trust among the warring sides and for Afghan people to see the practical result of the peace talks, ceasefire or a tangible reduction in violence is an inescapable necessity. Of course, the truce doesn’t mean to expect the Taliban to cease attacks, while pro-government forces continue to carry out counterinsurgency operations. If there is a ceasefire, both sides must strictly eschew military actions, and let Afghans decide their future in a peaceful environment.