A grassroots peace movement and an unprecedented (though temporary) Ramadan ceasefire have created rare space for, yes, cautious optimism in war-torn Afghanistan.
The government of President Ashraf Ghani has unilaterally extended a short-term ceasefire against the Taliban, and NATO forces say Eid al-Fitr truce – during which Taliban fighters and government soldiers posed for selfies – puts the country on the “edge of opportunity” for peace.
So what’s the Taliban thinking around all this?
A pair of studies offer rare insight on the Taliban mindset.
The United States Institute of Peace interviewed three dozen rank-and-file Taliban members, field commanders, and community members who support the Taliban cause to explore the group’s views on peace negotiations, trust (or lack of it), and what an acceptable peace deal might look like.
The Overseas Development Institute examined what life is like in areas under Taliban governance – and how Taliban influence on public services such as health and education can stretch to areas beyond its direct control. “Better understanding of how the Taliban govern, and what drives their policies, is essential for aid access, human rights advocacy and any future peace deal,” the report notes.
Surprising marches for peace in Afghanistan
It’s a rare opportunity for optimism amid the horrors of war: a growing group of protesters is marching from Afghanistan’s southern Helmand Province to the capital, Kabul, demanding an end to conflict.
What started as a handful of people has swelled to a few dozen. After a trek of more than 600 kilometres, the group reached Kabul in time for Eid – the celebrations that mark the end of Ramadan.
The peace march is just one example of the public demonstrations that have cropped up in half the country’s provinces in recent weeks, drawing in women and men from across ethnic lines who are fed up with the bloodshed.
These are no minor feats in Afghanistan, where moderate imams have come under attack and civilians themselves are often the direct target of suicide blasts. If peace is possible in Afghanistan, the days ahead may prove a crucial stepping stone in trust-building exercise that contributes to future peace-making, as the International Crisis Group (ICG) observes