Qatar is leading the efforts to find a permanent solution to one of the long-lasting conflicts in the world by hosting negotiations between the government of Afghanistan and the Taliban movement.
The Doha Dialogue, launched on September 12 this year, is a part of a landmark deal signed between the United States and the Taliban in February in Qatar. The deal was signed by US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad and Taliban political chief Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar. Under the deal, the foreign forces will leave Afghanistan by 2021 in exchange of counter-terrorism guarantees from the Taliban. The deal also has a provision for prisoner swap, under which some 5,000 Taliban prisoners and 1,000 Afghan security force prisoners were to be exchanged by March 10.
Yesterday, Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani held wide-ranging talks with visiting President of Afghanistan H E Dr. Mohammad Ashraf Ghani who arrived in Doha on Monday. The two leaders discussed developments in Afghanistan in light of the peace negotiations underway in Doha in order to achieve security, stability and peace in that country.
The Afghan President appreciated Qatar’s hosting of the peace negotiations and praised the role of Qatar and its commitment to peace in his country and its efforts to host this round of negotiations in order to reach lasting peace. The visit by the Afghan leader to Doha and his talks with Qatari leadership will give a new fillip to the efforts for finding a solution to the crippling conflict in the war-ravaged country.
The talks helped the Afghan people revive their dream of a long-lasting peace which eluded them for almost four decades due to internal conflicts and invasions by foreign countries.
The current generation of that country never had a taste of peace as the country has been constantly under the shadow of wars and struggles as internal conflicts between myriad of warlords were adding fuel to the fire. Now what the people are longing for is just a peaceful atmosphere, to go on with their life fearlessly and with dignity as people in other parts of the world do.
Peace will definitely herald development which should go hand in hand with fighting poverty. Winning over the imbroglio in Afghanistan is not an easy task as sporadic violence and explosions are still continuing there inflicting damage to the limited resources and facilities still standing in the country. Once a final peace deal is signed, all the parties should garner their strength and skills to rebuild the country to help it stand on a firm footing.
