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Pakistan’s Importance And Role in Afghan Peace Process

Ensuring long-term peace and stability in Afghanistan has been a major challenge for the United States and its NATO allies. After the 9/11 attacks, the United States invested significant resources to overthrow the Taliban government and support the establishment of a democratic administration. Over the past fifteen years, it has become clear that lasting peace will require engaging the Taliban in the country’s political process.

To bring the Taliban to the negotiating table, President Donald Trump wrote to Prime Minister Imran Khan of Pakistan, requesting Islamabad’s full support for the Afghan peace process. In his reply, Prime Minister Khan affirmed that peace in Afghanistan serves the interests of both nations and pledged Pakistan’s complete backing for the talks.

US Major Mistakes in Afghan War on Terror

After the United States adopted peace talks as its primary strategy for resolving the Afghan conflict, Pakistan has consistently denied U.S. and Afghan claims that it controls the Taliban.

The government maintains it has no direct or indirect influence over the group.

Nevertheless, the U.S. and its allies continue to urge Islamabad to persuade the Taliban to take part in negotiations.

Pakistan’s role in the peace process will depend on its level of influence with both the Taliban and other key stakeholders.

Why Taliban Won The War?

Peace in Pakistan is Linked With Peace in Afghanistan: Peace in Pakistan depends on stability in Afghanistan. The government has reiterated this connection repeatedly. This highlights Pakistan’s active role in the peace process and underlines its own interest in a stable neighbor. It also counters any accusations of double standards toward the Taliban, Afghanistan, or the negotiations.

Contact Taliban: Pakistan’s shared ethnicity and common border with Afghanistan give it a unique position among peace process participants to engage Taliban leaders and encourage their entry into political talks. In past efforts, Pakistan has worked through Pakhtoon tribal elders to facilitate dialogue, and it can rely on their mediation again.

US Strategic Tilt Towards India: Causes And Consequences

Assure Taliban: The Taliban will only fully engage in negotiations and accept the peace process terms if they receive credible assurances against deception. As Afghanistan’s immediate neighbor and a likely Taliban target, Pakistan is uniquely positioned to provide that guarantee.

True Arbitrator: Stability in Pakistan depends on stability in Afghanistan, making the peace process especially crucial for Pakistan. As a result, Pakistan is uniquely positioned to act as an honest broker between the Taliban and the Afghan government.

Drafting Constitutional Amendments: The Taliban disagree with Afghanistan’s current political framework and would likely demand constitutional amendments if they join the formal political process. As an Islamic republic, Pakistan is well placed to mediate those amendments between the Taliban and the Afghan government and to support their passage through parliament.

Pakistan can play an effective role in the Afghan peace process if the United States stops assigning blame and applying pressure. The US and other participants must also recognize and address Pakistan’s security concerns along the Pak-Afghan border and India’s activities in Afghanistan, including the use of Afghan territory by Indian intelligence agencies against Pakistan. As Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has emphasized, lasting stability in Afghanistan depends on an “Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process.”