Being such a significant player in the ongoing war, it is correct that a lot depends upon Pakistan’s response towards reconciling with the Taliban. It must be realised, however, that Pakistan has always maintained that a political dispensation of the conflict in Afghanistan is the best way forward. Thus, talks about need for lesser military operations and stress upon reconciliation and peace had always dominated the Pakistani discourse. The infamous ‘strategic depth’ paradigm too has lost its appeal inside Pakistan as it takes a backstage in comparison to the overriding war trends that requires us to have a peaceful and stable Afghanistan towards our western border instead. The aftershocks of a turbulent Afghanistan have been felt most intensely by Pakistan due to its geo-strategic proximity.
A strengthened Afghan security force and a subsequent transition into a functioning political system is what lies in Pakistan’s interest the most. The unanimous Pakistani stance of engaging groups into talks instead of continuing with the ambivalent US policy of talk, fight and build is pretty well known and Pakistan has had quite some spanking for going against the tide.
Apparently, the fighting phase is over, with the Al-Qaeda group reaching near extinction in South Asia after ten long years and surely all the players have had enough of fighting thus leaving the only two options of talking and rebuilding as the most favoured in the current scenario. Pakistan too needs to make its peace objectives and policy in Afghanistan very clear and transparent. How it aims to engage groups into talks, who are the groups and factions that need to be brought to the table more urgently and what incentives it aims to provide them for negotiations. Also what needs to be kept into consideration is the position from which the process would begin. Although equal significance ought to be given to the negotiating groups, but who holds the cards should be made amply clear so that agreements should benefit the state and the people as well instead of favouring just a few.
DR SAFA REHMAN
Islamabad
