Opinion | Will The Talibans Be Seen in The White House in T20?
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This article is contributed by Fazal Gilani:
About the author
Senior journalist, Former Senior Assignment Editor, who studied IMPA-BRI from Tsinghua University Beijing in China and is currently a Doctoral Candidate at Xi'an Jiao Tong University.
Recently, on the social media around the world a historical photo went viral. Next day of the 19th anniversary of the World Trade Center attacks, highest leaderships from the U.S and Afghan Talibans were seen together in a face to face meeting. Intra-Afghan peace talk's resumption is being observed by different societies with different interests in the success or failure dialogues.
Some people have started very interesting calculation over the comparisons between Americans and Talibans soldiers, for example; people say each U.S soldier was equipped with $80900 estimated cost from uniform to the weapons he/she carried out during the war, on the other side; each Talibani Jihadi fighter costs $523.
Since 2001, war in Afghanistan has cost $975 and during these two eras the US military relies on aircraft, missiles, while the Talibans rely on donkeys and AK47 rifles.
Although, the U.S government is still bombing Taliban’s areas in Afghanistan, but there is a hope moving ahead to peace as well. Most of the news came out from intra afghan peace talk is seems to be Afghan pro-government. At the opening ceremony of the high-profile talks between Taliban leadership and U.S supported the Government of Afghanistan;
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that China recommends the peace talk process is a fundamental direction of a political settlement, and that the negotiations should be led by Afghans, Owned by the Afghans, all negotiations should pursue a broad-based and comprehensive framework. Chinese Foreign Minister further advised that this peace talk process may be challenging, so both sides leadership involved in the negotiations must stay patience.
China has played very important role in advocacy of Afghan internal negotiations and always emphasizes on the principle of "Afghan-led and Afghan-owned" peace talk to restrain other countries from monopolizing the negotiation process and triggering unseen dangers and problems.
In his statement Prime Minister of Pakistan also expressed that:
“For more than 40 years, Afghans have suffered from continued conflict and bloodshed. Pakistan has endured the fall-out -- reflected in incidence of terrorism, loss of precious lives, and huge economic cost. I have underlined for a long time that there is no military solution to the conflict in Afghanistan and that the only way forward is a negotiated political settlement.
Through relentless efforts, Pakistan has played a pivotal role in facilitating the Afghan peace process to this juncture. We feel deeply gratified today as we have fulfilled our part of the responsibility. It is now for the Afghan leaders to seize this historic opportunity, work together constructively, and secure an inclusive, broad-based and comprehensive political settlement.
We hope all sides will honour their respective commitments, persevere in the face of all challenges, and remain unflinchingly committed to achieving the desired outcome. For its part, Pakistan will continue to remain in full support and solidarity with the Afghan people as they march forward in this consequential journey for peace and development.”
Afghanistan is the heart of Asia and also very important for the Silk Road. Without the peace in Afghanistan, there will be no peace in the region. It is also very important to make sure peace in Afghanistan for its neighboring countries like Pakistan because of full-fledged implementation of the CPEC and BRI.
Although, Pompeo claimed on bringing democracy and human rights in Afghanistan, but that is not true. Afghanistan’s people are very well aware even before the invasion of the U.S about their Human Right and political system. During the peace talks in Doha, members of the Taliban delegation said that we support women’s education and employment. In our schools, universities and workplaces, more than 95% of Afghan women wear headscarves.
Since 2001, more than 2,300 American soldiers and approximately 450 British soldiers have been killed by the Taliban. But still around 70% land area in Afghanistan controlled by the Taliban. The whole world is hoping that a real peace agreement of the year will be finalized soon as Deputy Leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Bradar met The US Secretary of the State Pompeo personally, which is a very positive sign.
Maybe we should be prepared for another peace agreement announcement by Donald Trump like Bahrain or UAE peace agreement with Israel and can see Talibans sitting with Trump in the white house signing an agreement like in the recent another historical photo….
what do you think? give us your personal opinion in the comment section…
Source of photo: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/15/us/politics/trump-israel-peace-emirates-bahrain.html
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