Trust deficit is a major issue in resolving Afghan conflict. All parties treat each other’s actions with skepticism. The regional powers accuse the western countries of conspiracy, insisting that their military presence not only did not bring stability to Afghanistan, but also led to more violence and expansion of terrorism. They cast doubt on the intentions of the United States, with some of them even declaring that the West, by using continued violence in Afghanistan, is seeking to maintain its military presence and even drag violence to the entire region. On the other side, the West blames the regional countries for its apparent defeat in Afghanistan, and suspects their efforts to help politically end Afghan conflict. This mistrust prompted the United States not to attend the Afghan peace conference in Moscow, where Taliban representatives were also in attendance.
The settlement of Afghan conflict seems unrealistic unless the regional states and the US-led western coalition are on the same page. Both blocs have to take trust-building measures to forge such a consensus. Every side be it the regional players or the West should avoid making provocative decisions because they contribute to erosion of trust, something that can further protract the imposed war on Afghan people.
The clarification of goals and intentions is the foremost step to build trust. If all sides clarify their goals, and are not in clash with each other, it is possible to achieve a political solution to the destructive conflict in Afghanistan. After 17 years of deaths and tragedies, the regional players, which doubtlessly wield influence over things in Afghanistan, do not put their faith in West’s goals. Their judgment is based on results. The main reason behind the West’s military presence in Afghanistan, as it had declared, was to fight terrorism and narcotics, but both have become more widespread and threatening after about two decades of the presence. The United States has to clear the murky waters in Afghanistan. It has to provide explanation for its failure to accomplish the goals in a way that is acceptable to all sides involved in Afghan conflict. The move can prove so effective in building trust between the various sides.
