Inclusive governance will be key to future of Afghanistan

In the two decades since the United States went to war in Afghanistan, it has never provided a plausible explanation for its goals or how it planned to achieve them, and it failed again.

In retrospect, it is obvious that the invasion was an overreaction to the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001. Comparing the rushed US evacuation as the Taliban took control of Kabul to the rapid US pullout during the Vietnam War is understandable.

The failure of the US military misadventure in Afghanistan despite the huge loss in blood and treasure raises significant questions about the rationale of the US invasion of the country and of how to address the consequences.

The US has failed to understand Afghanistan, and policies toward the country have not achieved positive results. The situation clearly reflects the mistakes that the US experienced in the Vietnam War.

With a new beginning for Afghanistan in the making, there must be a strong feeling of deja vu amid a surge of radicalization and extremist activities.

The future must be decided by the Afghans who have suffered a lot, including from human rights violations and civil unrest, during the long war. An inclusive administration, as promised by Taliban representatives, would give new hope

The fundamental reasons contributing to the lack of progress in intra-Afghan talks in recent months include the dichotomy among Afghan factions and a reluctance to show flexibility in fulfilling commitments.

Despite Afghans' willingness to reach a consensus through intra-Afghan dialogue, major issues such as future governance with strong tribal power remain to be determined.

The Taliban, as a resurgent political force, must stop bloodshed and terrorism in Afghanistan. Obviously, without reaching a consensus on a new political setup, there will be no end to the civil unrest in the country.

It has been a concern that a Taliban takeover will be no guarantee that permanent peace will result. Some analysts have feared a fresh wave of hostility and radicalization. However, the international community will not allow any terrorist group to operate from Afghan territory against any other country.

Internal instability in Afghanistan could have larger regional security ramifications for Pakistan, Iran, Central Asian republics, Russia and adjacent countries. Afghanistan must stop blaming Pakistan for its civil unrest and appreciate Pakistan's efforts in bringing parties to the negotiating table and facilitating a US-Taliban peace agreement, as well as its potential role in an inclusive peace negotiating process.

Peace in Afghanistan is important to regional cooperation between Central and South Asia. Central Asian republics and Pakistan consider peace and stability in Afghanistan a prerequisite for broader regional alignments. Central Asian republics and Pakistan have played a dynamic role in bringing peace to the region and seeking to resolve the Afghan conflict.

On the other hand, the immorality of the US invasion was aggravated by the flawed strategy pursued in the wake of its invasion. The US has disturbed regional peace and stability.

Amid all the chaos created by the US is a dire need to find a broad-based, inclusive settlement through an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned process. The country's people have to decide their own future and fate.

The author is executive director of the Center for Global & Strategic Studies in Islamabad, Pakistan.