Peace, stability will come with improved governance in Afghanistan: Policy expert

Afghanistan has a national entity but is divided into separate regions with different dynamics, and a constructive federal kind of approach within the system will bring about real change in the lives of the people, a policy expert has said.

Improved governance can only establish peace and economic development in Afghanistan, Brigadier Arun Sahgal, Executive Director of the Forum for Strategic Initiatives, added.

He maintained that though Afghanistan has got a new government in power, it continues to long for peace, stability and sustainability, and added that this was only feasible if peace talks with the Taliban took place.

With the Taliban increasing the number of attacks following the withdrawal of foreign combat troops, there is a growing security concern within the country.

President Ashraf Ghani is seeking help from Pakistan to negotiate with the Taliban for maintaining peace, but this approach has been criticized by former President Hamid Karzai.

Brig. Arun Sahgal further said, " "One of the most important and foremost requirements for Afghanistan is peace and stability. The second challenge is economic sustainability. The two challenges are interlinked. Peace and stability essentially will come about on the basis of how the Taliban is handled and dealt with. It will also depend on how the new government can go forward with its reconciliation efforts and improve its governance model based on inclusivity."

"The problem with the National Unity Government is that still after nearly four months, they really have not been able to take off nor been able to reconcile their differences. We could give them more time provided this time is utilized constructively for improving governance. During this period, what has also been seen is that the Taliban has wrecked activities. We have seen an increase in attacks and they want to retake what they have lost," said Brigadier Sahgal.

It has been projected that Afghanistan will have peace dialogue in March 2015 with Taliban.

"My understanding is that the Ashraf Ghani-led government is willing to accommodate the Taliban in the political main stream, but not make them part and parcel of the governance system. I have been given to understand that they are willing to induct them in other jobs which are not constitutionally mandated and to provide them with some kind of legitimacy in terms of governance," said Sahgal.

At this point in time there are multiple processes going on. The Americans are continuing their efforts to bring about political reconciliation; China has initiated peace talks with the Taliban and India has remained engaged with Afghanistan by not only providing dollar-linked aid, but also focussing on true social and economic development.