The raging dispute between American and Taliban forces in Afghanistan has been put to a halt. Both parties stated on separate announcements that their motive is to sit down and talk about peace. US President Barack Obama confirmed this new and promising development on Tuesday and said that he was looking forward to a steady and sure outcome in the upcoming talks. The two parties are expected to initiate peace and reconciliation talks soon since Taliban has already established a political office in Doha, Qatar.
For consideration
For more than a decade, US troops have fought with the Taliban coalition in Afghan soil. Thousands of soldiers ended up as fatalities and millions of properties were damaged and affected. Fear and terror have engulfed the country and its citizens lived many years without a semblance of peace.
After years of meeting in the middle of the battlefield, US and Taliban forces are now resorting to a more diplomatic and peaceful means to settle their differences. This Tuesday in Doha, Qatar, representatives of the Taliban coalition announced that they were ready to talk about reconciliation and peace. United States officials viewed this opportunity as a huge step for the attainment of peace in Afghanistan.
At some point, conditions were laid in order to gain some perspective on the newly found trust of the concerned parties. The Taliban fighters were asked to denounce their link to Al Qaeda however there is the realization amongst the Americans that this task will be slow, hard and complex. But the condition was clarified that there must be a push towards the separation of Taliban from Al Qaeda.
On the other hand, the US government is expected to pull out every single troop from Afghanistan by 2014. However, while the withdrawal of NATO and US forces is still ongoing, Obama is expected to leave a small American force to help train the local police and military in terms of counter terrorism and other important aspects of defending the country.
Light at the end of the tunnel
The Afghan dispute has become one of the longest conflicts ever to involve the United States. Even with President Obama heading the negotiation with the Taliban, the initiative is placed on the hands of Hamid Karzai, Afghanistan’s president.
US officials have varying yet positive opinions regarding the matter. According to some of their commentaries, the task at hand is a potentially significant development in the peace process. Such opportunity should not be missed since peace is still only starting to vivify. Quoting one of the senior U.S. officials, the political reconciliation “will certainly promise to be complex, long and messy.”
Prisoners of war
The first of the peace talks is expected to provide opportunities for both parties to state their own agenda. According to Wadir Safi, a political analyst based in Kabul, the Afghan capital, it has taken years for both countries to make the move to sit peacefully within the same room. Still, the preliminary meeting is not expected to be the right time and place to settle matters immediately. However, the recovery of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl who has been a captive since 2009 by the Taliban is likely to be a priority item on the agenda.
Photo Credit: The Taliban is working towards renewed negotiations with the US and the Afghan government.
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Google+
LinkedIn
Email