The Peace Negotiations and the Prospects for Political Stability in Afghanistan

Abstract

Over the last two decades, Afghanistan has made positive social, political, and economic progress. However, the country still faces many challenges, including conflict between the Taliban regime and the opposition parties, corruption, and ethnic problems. To end the political conflict and bring sustainable peace and stability to Afghanistan, the essential way forward requires the Taliban Government to negotiate with the opposition parties. Otherwise, there will be little possibility of ending the long hostility between the two sides and establishing a stable and secure government. It has been more than two years since the Taliban took over Afghanistan, and they have not changed their policy to allow girls to go to school and women to practice their political rights. However, on May 4, the Taliban regime announced during an international conference in Doha, the capital of Qatar, that their government would be willing to talk with the international community and build trust between each other. Nevertheless, the Taliban government rejected the international power's demands to talk with the opposition groups and establish an inclusive government. In contrast, the international community did not demonstrate a willingness to recognize the Taliban administration as the legitimate government of Afghanistan. Therefore, the Taliban regime is facing an internal and international legitimacy crisis. To move forward and solve the problem, inclusive negotiations are necessary, where they agree to ensure women's rights and pursue the unconditional release of elders, the disabled, and sick inmates. This paper describes the prerequisites for the conflicting parties before improving negotiations with each other. Failure to address and fulfill these prerequisites to ensure the chances of a successful outcome are maintained. No such talks should be undertaken unless three conditions have been addressed and acted upon. The three conditions are below organizing National dialogue, solving the ethnicity problems in Afghanistan, and establishing a framework for peace talks.