Afghans Discuss Stumbling Peace Process

Speakers at a series of IWPR debates have been discussing the progress of peace talks between the government and the Taleban, as well as how ordinary people could contribute to reconciliation.

The events were held in Uruzgan, Kandahar and Zabul, southern provinces where the Taleban have a strong presence.  

Sher Pacha Urgoni, deputy governor of Uruzgan province, expressed optimism that a peace agreement could be reached, even though negotiations had been disrupted by the recently-announced death of Taleban head Mullah Mohammed Omar. (See Afghans Debate Implications of Mullah Omar's Death.)

“There has been considerable progress in the peace process over recent months,” Urgoni said. “The death of the Taleban’s leader caused divisions within their ranks, but there is still hope that talks will resume soon.”

“Peace is essential,” he added. “Afghans need peace more than anything else.”

Jawid Ahmad Khpalwak, a civil society activist in Uruzgan, said the High Peace Council, the body charged with overseeing the negotiations, was itself problematic, as many of its members were known as military adversaries of the Taleban in previous conflicts.

Nur Mohammad Abdali, head of radio and television in Uruzgan, insisted that mediators could play a crucial role in negotiations.

“Even if war is imposed by outside forces, we should not lose hope and we should continue to work together to bring peace,” he said.

In Kandahar, religious scholar Qari Momin Khan said Muslim clerics should be engaged to explain the peace process to the public.

 “The Peace Council should contact with religious scholars, so that people can learn the value of peace and unity,” he said.

Daud Shah Zmarai, representing civil society organisations in Kandahar, said ordinary people needed to be involved.

Haji Jamal Agha, the district government chief in the province’s Zhari district, said that by building bridges with the local community, he had brought peace to an area that was previously out of control and overrun by insurgents. This, he said, was “something that thousands of foreign and local troops never managed to do throughout years of fighting”.

Abdul Qudus Baes, the Kandahar outreach officer for the High Peace Council, defended its record, saying that delays in the negotiations were due to factors outside its control.

“The first phase of peace talks in Islamabad raised the hopes of both the government and the public, with a ceasefire agreed in the second phase,” he said. “It was interference by the intelligence services of neighbouring countries that created obstacles.”

In Zabul, speakers also agreed that talks had been derailed by “outside intervention” – an oblique reference to Pakistan.

Gul Islam Seyal, spokesman for the Zabul provincial government, said the delayed progress was a result of foreign interference as well as infighting among the Taleban leadership.

Abdullah Khan Kharotai, Zabul provincial council member, agreed.

“Peace can be achieved if the Taleban’s internal issues are resolved and interference by foreign countries reduced,” he added.

Maulavi Abdulhakim Hikmat, head of the Zabul religious scholars’ council, said progress towards peace was also being held up by forces within Afghanistan’s government.

“The Afghan government has not taken decisive steps to bring peace,” he said. “There are still corrupt figures in the government who oppose peace for reasons of personal interest.”

Civil society activist Zarmina Patana pointed to the small role women were getting to play in the peace process, even though they risked losing many of their hard-won freedoms in any deal with the Taleban.

“Afghan women are not playing as big a part as they should in this process,” she said.

This report is based on an ongoing series of debates conducted as part of the IWPR programme Afghan Reconciliation: Promoting Peace and Building Trust by Engaging Civil Society.