Diplomatist Magazine Annual Edition 2018 | Page 21

Knowledge Partner Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Diplomatist weapons from the government, 75 HIA prisoners were released from prison in a secret deal without revealing their criminal files to the public. Cri*cs believe that if the HIA’s members receive special treatment, immunity, and compliments—and not live as ordinary ci*zens—they may return to violence, and consequently, people will not trust any future peace deal with the Taliban either. • Peace has to be defined into tangible projects to end the never- ending war and to ensure stability • The peace deal with the HIA must be implemented in an op*mal way and commitments that the HIA made in the deal should be fulfilled to ensure further achievements towards peace Lessons Learned • The US, with its new South Asia Strategy (announced in August 2017), ensured its commitment towards Afghanistan's stability and development. The US' involvement in the peace process can enhance inclusive peace only by suppor*ng an Afghan-owned and Afghan-led peace talks to gain credibility and legi*macy of a sovereign party to the talks. • The neutrality of the HPC is the key condi*on for both par*es with conflic*ng posi*ons, interests and arguments. This must be fulfilled to ensure all disputes can be discussed and resolved • Hard won gains, especially women's rights, which the Afghan people could achieve in the past 18 years, must be maintained as precious values for the further development of the country and should not be a subject of any agenda during peace talks with the Taliban • As long as the Taliban’s safe havens in Pakistan are not eliminated, the fate of the peace talks with the former will remain uncertain • The current system of power sharing inherently promotes conflict. The ethnic differences and conflicts must transform into an alliance against terrorism through reform and trust-building campaigns 10