By Ahmad Shah Katawazai
Todya, onetime Afghan National Security Adviser Mohammad Hanif Atmar announced his candidacy for side past times side year’s presidential elections. Atmar has been a fundamental figure inwards Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan for years. He signed the 2014 Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) amongst the the States in addition to inked a 2016 peace bargain amongst Hizb-i-Islami (Islamic Party), an extremist insurgent faction that had been fighting amongst Afghan in addition to afterwards U.S. forces for decades. The Hizbi-i-Islami accord was the start successful peace bargain betwixt the Afghan authorities in addition to insurgents. Atmar resigned from his NSA position 3 months ago, citing concerns over the safety situation, political instability, in addition to differences amongst President Ashraf Ghani on major policy issues. Western diplomats stationed inwards Kabul in addition to Afghan citizens were concerned nearly Atmar’s resignation, fearing that his absence would shape a shadow over the country’s frail National Unity Government at a fourth dimension when it was already reeling from Taliban attacks in addition to emerging presence of Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP). Moreover, Atmar’s presence was sorely needed for brokering a peace bargain amongst the Taliban.
After the successful breakthrough amongst Hizb-e-Islami, Atmar is eager to conclude a peace bargain amongst the Taliban, in addition to firmly believes that destination is possible. During his watch to Washington D.C. concluding March, he said that the government “should negotiate amongst anyone who is reconcilable,” including the Haqqani Network.
Since 2001, inwards the post-Taliban era, Atmar has been at the gist of Afghan politics in addition to major determination making. He has been successful inwards consolidating political mightiness since his provide to Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan from United Kingdom of Great Britain in addition to Northern Ireland next the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan. Since then, Atmar has served inwards key positions every bit government minister of rural evolution in addition to rehabilitation inwards Hamid Karzai’s transitional authorities from 2002-2006, didactics government minister from 2006-2008. in addition to interior government minister from 2008-2010. As national safety adviser inwards the electrical flow management from 2014-2018, Atmar was widely considered the most competent strategist, a leader amongst a vision.
Atmar was involved inwards almost every major determination past times the government: dealing amongst powerful warlords, ethnic politics, unusual policy, brokering political deals, in addition to negotiations amongst the Taliban. Due to his effectiveness inwards influencing regional in addition to international politics in addition to first-class services, Ghani conferred upon him the highest province medal inwards 2016. Atmar played a pivotal exercise inwards restoring NATO’s trust inwards Afghanistan, after which NATO pledged its back upward to Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan inwards the long run.
Atmar exercise inwards struggle against the ISKP has been of item importance. Through his sharp strategy he was able to thwart the grouping inwards Afghanistan’s eastern province of Nangarhar. Moreover, he was able to maintain the struggle nether Afghan authorities command in addition to out of the hands of the regional strongmen inclined to armed militias. Neighboring countries were tacitly helping the local warlords in addition to strongmen exercise their ain armed militias nether the pretext of struggle against the ISKP. Militias get got historically posed a threat to dominion of law inwards Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan every bit good every bit beingness behind human rights violations. But Atmar kept the struggle against the ISKP in addition to anti-terrorism efforts nether the Afghan safety forces’ supervision in addition to command, helped past times the U.S. troops introduce inwards Afghanistan.
Amid intensified peace talks amongst Taliban in addition to political bickering amid the leaders of the National Unity Government, political alliances get got been making in addition to breaking. Since Atmar’s resignation from his position every bit NSA, political horse-trading in addition to coalition-building has sped up. There has been tacit conversation amid opposition leaders in addition to merely about key people inwards the government, who are all jockeying for political mileage in addition to part inwards the side past times side authorities — in addition to Atmar remains the focal point. There are reports that Jamiat-e-Islami (JI) in addition to the Northern Alliance, which used to blame Atmar for centralizing power, has come upward to dorsum him inwards his bid for the side past times side presidential elections. Western-educated technocrats in addition to most of the electrical flow cabinet ministers are reportedly backing him too. While political deals in addition to maneuverings are on the ascent behind unopen doors, the political opposition is becoming to a greater extent than song inwards its criticism of the electrical flow government.
Next year’s presidential election remains a serious affair non exclusively for Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan but for the international community, peculiarly the United States. At a critical fourth dimension when the the States is inwards straight conversation amongst Taliban insurgents, the election is of critical importance to avoid political deadlock in addition to crisis such every bit followed the previous presidential election inwards 2014. Back then, after a long tussle betwixt Ghani in addition to runner-up Abdullah Abdullah, then-U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry brokered a bargain past times introducing the novel position of primary executive officeholder for Abdullah. The position – in addition to therefore the bargain — was unconstitutional in addition to sparked criticism from the public.
Though safety remains a priority in addition to continues to dominate the intelligence on Afghanistan,, in that place is fifty-fifty to a greater extent than at stake. The country’s frail internal political in addition to ethnic imbalance could larn worse if non controlled through a rational approach. One of the major upcoming challenges for Afghan politicians in addition to the international community, especially the United States, volition move how to handgrip the expected political deadlock in addition to response to strongmen who oftentimes desire to get got their part inwards the authorities past times force. This could move done through backing a national leader who has world back upward in addition to tin convey all ethnic groups together nether ane umbrella through consensus.
Ahmad Shah Katawazai is the fellow member of the Academy of Sciences of Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan in addition to onetime defence liaison at the Afghan Embassy Washington D.C. Katawazai has a master’s flat inwards Global Security Studies from Johns Hopkins University in addition to a master’s inwards International Legal Studies from American University. Katawazai is a published writer. You tin follow him on Twitter: @askatawazai
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