NEGOTIATING WITH THE TALIBAN: HOW WILL IT AFFECT THE FUTURE OF AFGHANISTAN?

Abstract

In response to the 9/11 terrorist attack in New York, US military launched an operation on October 7, 2001. Despite the totally removal of the Taliban in 2001, now Afghanistan is more insecure than ever. According to the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), Taliban controlling the 43 per cent of Afghanistan’s districts and threaten 70% of Afghanistan. After President Donald Trump's will to end the longest war in American history, special representative Zalmay Khalilzad began to shuttle between the countries that might have an impact on the Afghan issue. Since September 2018, Khalilzad has held five rounds of talks with the Taliban. The most important issues of these negotiations are: The United States wants to ensure that Afghanistan will not be a shelter for terrorist organizations, cutting off ties with organizations such as al-Qaeda, Taliban talks with the Afghan government and a ceasefire. On the other side, the only condition of the Taliban is that the clear timetable of foreign forces complete withdrawal from Afghanistan. Also, Afghan president Gani stressed that they would void the outcome of the negotiations that excluded the elected government. The American side gives the message that the process continues with Gani's knowledge and support. After U.S. withdraw, the predictions that the Taliban can return to Kabul are pushing Washington to pursue peace talks and to accept the Taliban as a political reality is the defeat in any case for the United States. On the other side, Afghans are concerned that negotiation with the Taliban could destroy the 18-year gains in democratic and human rights fields. Within this pessimistic atmosphere, is it posible to negotiate with fragmented, factionalised and undisciplined groups of Taliban to be successful?, Is the US-Taliban agreement sufficient for peace?, how will it affect the future of Afghanistan? and is it beginning of dark times for women and minorities in the Afghanistan?. This article tries to answer the above questions.