Afghanistan: Peace demands sacrifice

The deadlock in peace talks cannot be overcome unless the two sides are ready to sacrifice their narrow interests.

As the Afghan government and the Taliban continue their struggle over who will control Kabul, they ignore the fact that they will not wield any legitimacy unless the Afghan people grants it to them. The Afghan people are the sole sovereign over the country and as such, the power is in their hands. The current Afghan administration and the Taliban should remember that, unlike in the Middle Ages, today, holding political power does not mean being a ruler but rather being a servant to the people. When it comes to all matters of the country, including war and peace, governance, resource exploitation, the final word belongs to the people. During the past year, the talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban have stalled, as the civilian casualties have mounted, hundreds of thousands have been displaced, infrastructure has been destroyed, the economy has been suffering, and food production and supply have been disrupted by hostilities. This has put the lives of millions of citizens in serious jeopardy. This must stop now.