For two long decades, Afghanistan has been in a state of a raging war. This conflict has stripped the Afghan people of their human rights. Stepping out onto the street has been the deadliest sport in the country. Cacophonies of bomb explosions and bullets being fired fill the ears of children. The war has destroyed land and food is scarce. The on-going battle between the US and Taliban forces has lasted for so many years that the world has turned a blind eye to the inconceivably gruesome conditions that surround the Afghani people.
However, the everlasting war has made all parties involved recognise that a military solution is not achievable and increased war fatigue has finally led to a political settlement. On 29th February 2020, the US and the Taliban signed a peace deal in Doha to lay out the beginning of the end of the United States’ longest war. It is the first step taken at attaining peace in Afghanistan and in giving the people and the soldiers a shred of hope.
09/11 and the Start of an almost Two-Decade long War
The world remembers the dreadful Tuesday morning in 2001 when buildings turned to dust and aeroplanes turned to ashes. The September 11 attacks were a series of four coordinated attacks on the US soil. Hijacked passenger planes wrecked the World Trade Centre and The Pentagon. The fourth plane, headed towards Washington DC, crashed into a field in Pennsylvania after the passengers took control of the aircraft. These attacks - which resulted in almost 3,000 fatalities and over 25,000 injuries, were orchestrated by al-Qaeda head Osama Bin Laden. The whole world was devastated by the news and mourned for the lost lives. It is heart-rending to think about the innocents who perished solely because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The Afghan war started a month after the 9/11 attacks, when the US launched airstrikes in Afghanistan upon the Taliban’s refusal to hand over the men behind the attacks. The strikes were an attempt to disrupt the use of Afghanistan as an operational base [1]. Soon, the United States and its allies formed an international coalition and overthrew the Taliban from power. But in the coming years, the organisation regrouped and continued to gain momentum causing the war to persist. By 2018, their men were active in 70% of Afghanistan.
The Search for Peace
The continued violence only soared over the years in the ongoing Afghan war. Thousands of civilians were killed in Afghanistan and an increasingly greater number of US soldiers had to leave their homeland. For decades, the Afghans feared walking in their streets and millions were forced to flee their motherland in search of refuge in other countries. The war-weary civilians and soldiers have fought long enough. The peace agreement had been long overdue.
The first peace talks originated in 2010 when Hamid Karzai established the Afghan High Peace Council to negotiate with the Taliban [2]. Since then, there have been continued efforts to obtain a peace deal. From 2011 onwards, Qatar hosted Taliban leaders to discuss peace in Afghanistan with the USA. Finally, on February 29, 2020, the United States and the Taliban signed a peace agreement in Doha, Qatar which led to the foundation for an end to wars in Afghanistan.
Highlights of the agreement
The “agreement for bringing peace” includes the following focal points [3]:
• Withdrawal of foreign forces: The United States of America has agreed to lessen their troops within the next 135 days, and 3,400 US soldiers will be retired from the region. The US and NATO allies have consented to withdraw all troops from Afghanistan within 14 months if the militants uphold their end of the deal.
• Cease-fire: A temporary reduction in brutality and a lasting ceasefire among the U.S., Taliban and Afghan forces was negotiated.
• Counter-terrorism assurances: The Taliban guaranteed Afghanistan will not be used to toy with or threaten the security of the United States and its allies. The agreement also prohibits the operation of any extremist group in their region of control.
• Intra-Afghan negotiations: The recent prisoner swap led the Afghan government to release 5,100 Taliban prisoners and in turn, the Taliban released 1,000 of their captives. Future talks are yet to be made about the co-existence of the government and the Taliban in the country of Afghanistan. The participants of intra-Afghan negotiations will discuss the date and modalities of a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire which will be announced along with the completion and agreement over the future political roadmap of Afghanistan. These will be vital in the maintenance of peace in the country.
What the Future Holds for the Afghans
While we know the peace agreement was a much-needed step towards a tranquil Afghanistan, it came in haste with Trump’s impatience and a possible boon to his re-election campaign. The discussions and negotiations were carried out without the Afghan government. This weakened the government’s position in the country while the Taliban left Doha in a commanding status giving them the upper hand in negotiations.
Many precarious issues remain to be worked out during intra-Afghan negotiations. These include sharing of power, disarming and reintegration of Taliban fighters into society, and determining the future of the democratic institutions and constitution of the country.
Despite the peace deal, the insurgent attacks against Afghan security forces were reported to have surged in the country. In the 45 days after the agreement, the Taliban conducted more than 4,500 attacks in Afghanistan, killing over 900 Afghan security forces [4].
Only time will tell whether the parties will live up to the agreement or not. But one certain thing is the Taliban’s hold on Afghanistan will now strengthen. There are concerns in the US that the Taliban could overrun the US-backed Afghan government and establish their regime.
Additionally, the threat of terrorism is still largely present. According to Afghan officials, more than twenty terrorist groups are operating inside the country.
Throughout the years of the changing political framework in Afghanistan, women's rights have been exploited by different groups for political gain, sometimes being improved but often being abused [5]. There is fear among activists that these changes will pave more ways for women’s oppression in the country.
Conclusion
“The men and women of Afghanistan are building a nation that is free, and proud, and fighting terror-and America is honored to be their friend.”
— George W. Bush
The people of Afghanistan have endured years of battle to survive in a war-torn country. More than eighteen years of conflict has taken hundreds of thousands of lives, including those of the US soldiers who fought till their dying breath. It is high time to try and put an end to the longest war in US history.
The US-Taliban peace deal was the first step taken towards providing the people of Afghanistan a peaceful atmosphere, one far from hearing bullets on the street and bombs in the distance. It also provides relief to the US soldiers who have fought tirelessly for their country.
But undeniably, the destination of complete order in the country is still a long way ahead. The hope remains that the deal comes through and the light of peace shines upon the land of Afghanistan.
Article by-
Sakshi Puri,
Co-editor, For the Record,
PES MUN Society
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