One problem in Afghanistan is that everyone supports rule of law to an extent that does not threaten his or her individual interests. The sole concern of many Afghan politicians is indeed protection of their interests than rule of law. When they talk rule of law and national sovereignty, there often are their personal interests at stake. Leaders of the National Unity Government (NUG), who preferred a power-sharing deal brokered by an American to over five million votes cast by Afghan people in the 2014 presidential election, are now trying to sabotage the ongoing peace talks between the United States and the Taliban under the ploy of violation of Afghanistan’s national sovereignty. As one of the main parties to the Afghan conflict, leaving Kabul out of any peace talks has no justification, and Washington cannot serve as alternative to Kabul despite all its shortcomings. Nonetheless, Afghan government leaders also do not reserve the right to divest Afghan people, who have been suffering from the imposed war for decades and pay a heavy price on a daily basis for the wrong decisions and/or thirst for power of their politicians, of peace.
While the National Unity Government is a few months away from completing its five-year term, its leaders now remember and talk about the national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Afghan civilians have been dying in airstrikes carried out by international troops for the last four years and a half, but none of the leaders of the two-headed government dared to condemn the killings, and in some instances, even blamed Afghan National Defense and Security Forces for the crimes committed by foreign troops in order to gratify their foreign allies. When US Secretary of State John Kerry installed them as government leaders, they had no concern and sense about independence, national sovereignty, will of people, and rule of law. However, now that the actions of the same actor, America, may depose them from power, they have started to play the independence and national sovereignty card.
If NUG leaders believe that the ongoing American efforts for peace in Afghanistan really hurt the country’s best interests, they should come forward and let people know what goals is Washington after in a potential peace deal with the Taliban. If they now raise issues that they did not dare to talk about over the last four years and a half only because the peace deal can challenge their bid for re-election or staying in power, they should know that they would never find Afghan nation on their side. People want peace, and also are ready to pay a reasonable price for it.
