May 14, 2021

Afghans’ brief chance to end ongoing chaos

topic:	Peace and Reconciliation
located:	Afghanistan
editor:	Shadi Khan Saif

On the heels of a highly anticipated, yet short-lived, truce during the Muslim holy festival of Eid, Afghans have a chance to settle differences on a shared table of talks, and not in deadly trenches of war.

The three-day Eid al-Fitr truce announced by the Taliban and reciprocated by the Afghan government, which ended on Sunday, indicates the realisation on both sides that neither can reach a victory through continued violence and loss of more lives on all sides. 

The lack of political wisdom and goodwill is the greatest hindrance on the Taliban side, as these elements could guide them to rise above petty issues and declare a permanent truce. 

In terms of dynamics of the war, the Afghan government with its military superiority over the insurgents in conventional warfare has an edge, which it needs to carefully maneuver to maintain order without pushing the insurgents to a point of suicidality to shun violence. The government, as a commanding entity, needs to continue to keep a window of reconciliation open for the greater welfare of the country.

The Taliban clearly have an edge in the gruella warfare, targeted assassinations and the use of improvised explosive devises and, of course, suicide attacks. They need to stop pushing for more clout and space through such violent means, provided that the core reason for their insurgency, the foreign troops, are set to leave the country soon.

Their reluctance to attend the proposed peace conference in Istanbul is worrying, however, as the resumption of intra-Afghan peace talks in the Qatari capital Doha on Friday is indeed a rare sign of hope amid such uncertain times.

Statistics provided by the Interior Ministry suggest that at least 300 civilians have been killed and 500 others injured since the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan. The ministry further states that since the beginning of Ramadan on 14 April, insurgents conducted 150 landmine explosions, 15 suicide attacks, and 50 targeted assassinations across the country, especially in major cities.

It took generous international support of over two decades to bring the state of Afghanistan to the stage where it is in terms of women and child healthcare, education, infrastructure and other socioeconomic indicators. The country still has bitter memories of the state collapsing in the past.

If the Afghans repeat the grim mistakes of the past, such as factional divisions and disregard for state institutions and structures, it could well plunge into depths of chaos that would be literally impossible for them to climb out of again.

Image: U.S. Department of State. 

Call to Action

Aid and empower communities in Afghanistan

Support now