By Ali Amiri (Journalist)

It is increasingly evident that peace with the Taliban has turned to be the main goal of Afghan government. The government of Afghanistan has sent many green signals to the Taliban during past one year, which indicates the importance of a political settlement for the Afghan government. Long before, President Karzai called Mollah Omar “brother” and requested him personally to stop fighting and join peace process. On different occasions, the President has been repeating this request.

The Peace Strengthening Commission head by Sibghatullah Mojaddadi the former head of Senate was the first step by the government to bring Taliban towards peace. The commission has spent a handsome amount of money to absorb Taliban commanders to peace process and make them stop fighting. Rarely have they been successful in

their effort. However, in many cases these commanders have returned back to the ranks of the Taliban. Over all, there have always been serious doubts about the activities of peace strengthening commission.

Last year the government of Afghanistan initiated a council for peace. The Peace Jirga held in Kabul included one thousand and six hundred representatives almost from all parts of the country. To a great extent this gathering formulated a framework for talks with the Taliban.

The main demand of the council from the Taliban was acceptance of the Afghan constitution and reintegration to the political and social mainstream. It was also stressed during the meeting that a Hihg Council for Peace be created to lead the issue of reconciliation with the Taliban in a broader scale.

The High Council for Peace includes former jihadi leaders including Burhanuddin Rabbani as its leader. Almost half a year has passed from the formation of this council and there has been no significant achievement in the reconciliation process with the Taliban. The High Council for Peace is probably the last initiative of Afghan government. This is not because the government has no interest in reconciliation but because this is the most important initiative it can ever take. In response to the calls for peace by the government, the Taliban has increased violence by more suicide attacks, explosions and killings.

With this background perspective can we say that the peace process with the Taliban has reached to a dead end? If we consider the possibilities of peace, it is easier to answer this question. In addition to its practical initiatives, what other measures can the government of Afghanistan take to bring peace? As far as the distribution of political power and the privileges are concerned, the government has some other options. The government of Afghanistan can give employment opportunities for the Taliban leaders and also can appoint some Taliban leaders to higher government offices. However, the government has no other tools other than this and the Taliban are not demanding a share in the power but they want to infuse their ideology and lifestyle into the Afghan society and the government. Taliban have problem with constitution, freedom of speech, work and education of women, elections, votes and democracy. Therefore, the ideological demands of the Taliban are more than the Afghan government can meet and because of this the government has been unable to offer compromises on these ideological issues. The international community considers Taliban as part of terrorist network- Al Qaida and deem possible their return if they cut off their relations with this network. Therefore, the government of Afghanistan has neither the authority nor the power to overcome the ideological demands of the Taliban. Therefore, considering the issue from this ideological perspective, we can say to some extent the peace process has reached to dead end. Although it is an early conclusion, we can conclude a future prospect of the issue based on this conclusion.

Based on what is said in the above, the future prospect of peace seems to be very gloomy and dark. If we pay a real look to it, there is no progress observed in this issue. Now, everyone must have reached to this conclusion that the reactions by the Taliban have none been seen as a sign of hope that would end towards peace. The current process will not end up in peace. Once again peace and war has been tied together in this country. The only way to bring a small hope of peace is to double military pressures on the frontlines over the Taliban and their supporters. In one word, only intensified fighting can end up in peace. Only the policy of ‘iron fist’ and pressures in the front line and other areas on the Taliban can be helpful to finish crises in this country.