INDIA'S ROLE IN AFGHANISTAN PEACE PROCESS
Recently, the USA President has envisaged a New Peace Initiative (Plan) to decide on the roadmap for peace in Afghanistan. Under the plan, the USA proposed a regional conference under the United Nations auspices with foreign ministers of the USA, India, Russia, China, Pakistan and Iran to discuss a “unified approach” on Afghanistan.
USA'S PRESIDENT NEW PEACE INITIATIVE
Delay in Withdrawal of Troops: This peace plan has kept open the possibility that the USA troops, currently deployed in Afghanistan, might stay on for a longer time. Under the earlier USA- Taliban Deal, the USA had promised to withdraw all troops by May, 2021.
Immediate Action: The USA is pressing the Taliban to accept an immediate agreement to reduce violence for 90 days that will provide the space for the peace initiative. Inclusive Process: The USA will not be “dictating terms” to the Afghan parties, but facilitating an inclusive interim government, an agreement on the “foundational principles” for a new political order, and a “permanent and comprehensive ceasefire”.
Turkey’s Role: The USA is asking Turkey to convene a meeting of the government in Kabul (capital of Afghanistan) and the Taliban to finalise a peace settlement.
Unified Approach: The USA asked the United Nations to convene a meeting of the foreign ministers from China, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, India and the United States to develop a “unified approach” to peace in Afghanistan.
INDIA'S ROLE IN THE PEACE PROCESS
India is an important player in the peace process – it has also been acknowledged by the USA. India supports all efforts for peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan which are inclusive and Afghan-led, Afghan owned and Afghan-controlled. India has invested heavily in infrastructure developments, training security forces and supplying them with necessary equipment. India has a major stake in the stability of Afghanistan since it has invested considerable resources in Afghanistan's development. India hopes to have a role in setting the terms especially concerning terrorism, violence, women’s rights and democratic values.
INDIA'S INTEREST IN AFGHANISTAN
Economic and Strategic Interest: Afghanistan is a gateway to the oil and mineral-rich Central Asian republics. Anyone who is in power in Afghanistan controls the land routes connecting India with Central Asia (via Afghanistan).
Developmental Projects: The massive reconstruction plans for the country to offer a lot of opportunities for Indian companies. Major projects include the Afghan Parliament, the Zaranj-Delaram Highway, and the Afghanistan-India Friendship Dam (Salma Dam). Also India’s assistance of more than USD 3 billion in projects, hundreds of small development projects (of schools, hospitals and water projects) have cemented its position in Afghanistan.
Security Interest: India has been the victim of state-sponsored terrorism emanating from Pakistan supported terrorist group operating in the region (e,g. Haqqani network). Thus, setting up a friendly government in Afghanistan can help tackling Pakistan supported terrorism.
CHALLENGES AHEAD OF IT:
The Afghan government as well as Taliban is unwilling for any power sharing. Taliban is even not willing to give up its sanctuaries in Pakistan. Nor will it accept any dilution of the strict Islamic system that it wants to enforce. Also, the Taliban is fragmented or divided internally. It is composed of various regional and tribal groups acting semi-autonomously. Therefore, it is possible that some of them may continue to engage in violence impacting the peace process and dialogue.
US-TALIBAN PEACE DEAL
The United States has signed a historic deal with Taliban earlier this year that could pave the way for ending the 18-year-war in Afghanistan. The deal was signed in Doha (Qatar) and thus termed as Doha Agreement. India has welcomed the signing of the U.S.-Taliban peace deal by accepting an invitation to attend the meeting for the same in Doha. The agreement set out a course for the next 14 months. Comprehensive Ceasefire between the Afghan Government and Taliban. Timeline for the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Afghanistan will be carried out, provided the Taliban adhere to their security guarantees and ceasefire. The prevention of the use of Afghanistan by any group or individual against the security of the United States and its allies. The facilitation of an intra-Afghan dialogue. The participants of intra-Afghan negotiations will discuss the date and modalities of a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire, including agreement over the future political roadmap of Afghanistan. In turn, the Taliban has demanded the release of 5000 fighters from Afghan-run jails. Taliban has the ultimate goal of imposing Sharia in their respective regions. This is in conflict with what the people in Afghanistan want. Afghanistan has its own Constitution and people want to be governed as per the Constitution. This will make any peace deal that they would have, unsustainable. The Taliban will hardly share power with the Afghan Government. Thus it is quite possible that even after the peace deal, the country will be back to civil war again.
Then, the world will face twin challenges in
CONCLUSION
An independent, sovereign, democratic, pluralistic and inclusive Afghanistan is crucial for peace and stability in the region. In order to ensure the same, the Afghan peace process should be Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled. Also, there is a need for the global community to fight against the global concern of terrorism. In this context, it high time to adopt the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (proposed by India at UN in 1996). Though the new initiative by the USA is a good step, the road ahead would not be easy. Achieving lasting peace in Afghanistan will require patience and compromise among all parties.
