IT’S TIME TO TALK PEACE, NATO ENVOY TELLS TALIBAN

Eid truce shows end to conflict is possible, says western alliance’s Cornelius Zimmermann

Nato’s top civilian representative in Afghanistan is urging the Taliban to come to the negotiating table, saying the rare ceasefire in June shows the group can win political recognition and bring an end to its 17-year conflict with the government and western forces.

In an interview with The National, Ambassador Cornelius Zimmermann, the military alliance’s senior civilian representative in Afghanistan, said there is a genuine chance of peace given the sweeping desire among ordinary Afghans for an end to fighting.

The three-day Eid truce in June opened up the potential for political acceptance of the Taliban, once thought highly improbable, he said, and consequently the insurgents and other parties must capitalise.

“There is an overwhelming and universal demand for peace among the Afghan public. Afghans have suffered enough and the ceasefire showed that peace is possible,” he said.

“Now the Taliban must show that they are genuinely willing to play their part to ensure lasting peace and security for the benefit of all Afghans. They must understand that they cannot win on the battlefield, but that they can gain a place in Afghan society and politics at the negotiating table.”

The months that followed the end of the ceasefire have been typically bloody, particularly in recent weeks when the Taliban laid siege to the southern city of Ghazni, killing hundreds and burning marketplaces and government premises. The group’s fighters also attacked other areas of the country and captured several rural districts, while rival militant faction ISIS targeted the capital, Kabul.

Yet Mr Zimmerman believes the initial, breakthrough truce signals a change and offers a unique opening for lasting quiet in the country.

“Afghans no longer just yearn for peace, they believe in it and have begun working for it,” he said.

One example of that grassroots peace movement was the dozens of Afghans who walked 700 kilometres from Helmand, Kandahar and Herat to the capital in a peace march that coincided with the ceasefire and captivated the country.

Several key developments this year could contribute to peace. President Ashraf Ghani has offered talks with the Taliban without conditions, US officials have met Taliban figures face to face for the first time, and the militant group said it would send emissaries to Moscow for Russia-backed talks despite US and Afghan refusals to attend.

The Eid Al Fitr ceasefire raised hopes of progress after Taliban fighters entered Afghan cities and mixed with government soldiers.

The revival of Taliban attacks since June dimmed prospects of talks. The militant group now controls more than 60 of Afghanistan’s 407 districts, and Mr Ghani has drawn criticism for his failure to stem the insurgency.

Despite offering a second, conditional truce for the Eid Al Adha holiday, the Taliban did not accept. They said they would first formally negotiate with the Americans – a longsought aim – over the “illegitimate” Afghan government.

Adding to Mr Ghani’s woes, his national security adviser quit last week and he was forced to reject the resignations of his intelligence chief and interior and defence ministers over the recent attacks.

One obstacle is support for the Taliban from countries opposed to US and Nato aims in Afghanistan.

Russia and Iran have both been accused of providing support to the militant group. Mr Zimmermann said those playing both sides in the conflict must stop.

“It is an unfortunate fact that some neighbouring states feel the need to have ‘hedging strategies’ whereby they provide support to the Afghan government while maintaining contact and even support to other non-state actors, such as the Taliban,” he said.

“We will get there much quicker if we work together and not at cross-purposes to one another.”

To that end, he welcomed the UAE’s continued role in supporting the Nato mission in Afghanistan.

Abu Dhabi was officially inaugurated into the training, assistance and advisory mission last month, at which funding for the Afghan security forces – specifically special forces and air force – was extended until 2024.