1. Alienating the majority Pashtuns from power was a big mistake and the last ten years, in which progress was made at a snail’s pace, have showed that peace in Afghanistan can only be achieved if all parties work together. The Northern Alliance may take a share in power but Pashtuns must also get their due share. Otherwise, the war in Afghanistan will spread even more. If in Iraq and Bosnia-Herzegovina people from different religions or sects can share power then why not in Afghanistan? Why has neither the U.S. nor NATO ever tried to develop a power-sharing formula for all stakeholders in Afghanistan? 

2. Afghanistan is a mix of tribes and imposing a Western-style democracy is not a solution there. People are used to living according to their religious beliefs and customs. Even in the West, not everyone follows the modern way of life; The Amish and ultra-Orthodox Jews still live according to their centuries-old beliefs and reject mixing with the modern world. If the West can accept these people in their societies then it is necessary that they also respect the Afghan lifestyle. Afghans are simple people and bringing gradual improvement in their tribal system would be beneficial for all.  

3. It is said that the Pakistani military created various militant groups to fight in the name of Islam. But if they created those groups then what was the real reason? The biggest reason is Kashmir, a dispute which still needs a solution after sixty years and remains a major flashpoint of confrontation between India and Pakistan. Many militant groups are mainly involved in fighting with the Indian Army in Kashmir, and the Taliban are one product of those groups. So if it is said that the solution to the Afghanistan problem goes through Kashmir then it is not totally wrong. 

It is not uncommon but amazing how politicians around the world emphasize one thing during their political campaigns, but for some reason forget it when they hold power. Mr. Obama, stated clearly that the Kashmir issue needs a solution many times during his presidential campaign, but because the U.S. needs a power to challenge China’s rising status in the region and India is more then willing to do so, when he became President of the United States his priorities and views about a Kashmir solution vanished. No one would hear a word about it from his administration. It is extremely important that people in Kashmir get what they desire and there should be a solution of this long-standing issue between two nuclear-armed rivals. If the Kashmir problem is solved it will bring two countries closer. More importantly, it will gradually eliminate the militant groups and the Pakistani Army would not need to support or create any new militant groups to fight proxy wars. Fundamental problems like Kashmir have to be solved for a lasting peace in the region and it will have a big effect on Afghanistan. 

4. During a TV interview to a Pakistani news channel, Afghan President Hamid Karzai was asked about Pakistani intelligence agencies having provided evidence of the presence of a top Baloch insurgent leader in Afghanistan, he did not deny it but said that if there is no peace then the land of both countries would be used against each other. Pakistan claims that Indians are fueling and aiding the Baloch insurgency in Balochistan, the biggest province of Pakistan, and that the U.S., NATO or the Afghan government are not doing anything about it. The same is said about Pakistan, that it is supporting the Taliban to maintain its influence in Afghanistan when NATO forces leave the country. The United States wants to leave Afghanistan soon but wishes to keep its permanent military bases to maintain its influence in Afghanistan and in the region. The U.S. would also like to have a significant Indian presence in Afghanistan so that in future Pakistan’s influence could be curtailed. On the other hand, Russia, China, Pakistan and Iran do not want a permanent American military presence in their neighborhood. 

These are all hidden underhand games, but on the front the only thing visible is the fight against the Taliban to bring peace in Afghanistan for the safety of the region and of the whole world. It clearly shows that there is no transparency in doing things and that is why all are suffering, just blaming each other but with no one ready to show their clear ambitions. That is hurting badly and it is one of the biggest reasons for failures in Afghanistan so far.  

5. Ironically, Western countries solve their issues themselves and mostly remain on the same page on critical world issues. Why can Asian or other countries not have the same strategy? Why would India like to act as a Western tool against China’s rise and why does Pakistan need to work as a military hand of China to hold back India? Pakistan and India would be better off if they were not used by others. Afghans should also sit together and forcefully say that their country is not a playing ground for other powers’ proxy wars against each other and they can solve the issues by themselves. 

6. The United States, Pakistan and Afghanistan should sit together and chalk out a transparent plan that is acceptable to everyone, stop underhanded activities against each other and then involve other neighboring countries.  

Hypocrisy, double standards and mistrust have lead to this failed situation where everyone seems to be fighting for the same cause but secretly acting against each other. Peace in Afghanistan can still be achieved if all parties work with honesty and sheer will. Otherwise, we will be seeing many more fruitless conferences in the future and the effects of Afghanistan’s failure will reach its neighbors and eventually the entire world.