Powers hitting “Afghan jackpot”

A statement issued by the State Department says that three major world powers, the United States, Russia and China have held constructive talks in Washington for two consecutive days aimed at ending decade’s long Afghan war through a political settlement and to ensure that Afghanistan never become a source of threat to any of them. Representatives of the three countries discussed how to coordinate their strategies for restoring peace and stability in Afghanistan. It was agreed to continue discussions for further streamlining Afghan peace process.

US special representative on Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalizad took on board European Union before joining the trilateral talks. It may be recalled that Germany had played host to a number of peace conferences on Afghanistan.

Pakistan has always been keen on the political settlement of Afghan war. It facilitated the advent of direct talks of US Deputy Assistant Secretary State for South Asia Ms. Alice Wells with the Taliban representative in Doha, Qatar, the first round of which materialized in July last year. The new leadership that assumed power in August last year embarked upon a proactive Afghan policy. Since his appointment as special representatives on Afghanistan in September last year, Zalmay Khalilzad has held several rounds of dialogue with senior leadership of the Taliban which transpired slow but forward movement towards political settlement. He acknowledged Pakistan’s all out efforts for making possible US-Taliban direct talks. The fifth meeting of these talks was held in Doha last month which was reported to have been focused on four key points which pertained to counterterrorism assurance, comprehensive ceasefire, foreign troops’ withdrawal and holding intra-Afghan dialogue. The Taliban leadership is unwilling to hold talks Ashraf Ghani government, although their representatives did handshake and held brief talks with the representative of incumbent government in Kabul in the second international peace conference which was held in Moscow in November last year. Din Mohammad Azizullah, head of the Afghan government delegation had confirmed “brief talks” with the Taliban representatives at a working lunch during the conference. But Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, who led the Taliban group, reiterated the Taliban does not see the current government in Kabul as legitimate. It is pertinent to mention that later in February this year Taliban representatives met Afghan delegation led by former President Hamid Karzai in Moscow. These developments raise hopes that Taliban leadership may soften their stance when diplomatic pressure from world powers and neighbouring countries mount further.

Pakistan, Iran, China, Russia and Central Asian countries are genuinely concerned about the entry of ISIS and rallying of a number of terrorist groups under its umbrella. It remains to be seen how much the United States is really interested in the early political settlement of Afghanistan.