What Did The Afghan Ceasefire Achieve?

Afghan Taliban militants ride a motorbike as they take to the streets to celebrate a ceasefire on the second day of Eid in the outskirts of Jalalabad in this June 16, 2018 file photo. — AFP

Michael Kugelman, Foreign Policy: False Dawn in Afghanistan?

A temporary Taliban truce, despite the opportunity it presents, doesn’t mean peace is about to break out anytime soon.

In recent days, unprecedented developments in Afghanistan have brought new hope to one of the most war-stricken countries in the world.

The Afghan government and the Taliban declared separate brief cease-fires to mark the Eid al-Fitr holiday. Over a remarkable three-day period, smiling soldiers, civilians, and Taliban fighters mingled together in the cities, including the capital Kabul, and shared hugs and sweets. Though the Taliban leadership declined Kabul’s request to extend the cease-fire, new truces have reportedly been struck between local officials and insurgents in parts of three different provinces.

Thanks to this momentum, Afghanistan now has a real opportunity to launch a long-elusive reconciliation process to end a war that has raged relentlessly for nearly 17 years. And yet, amid all the euphoria, a peace deal remains a far-off prospect. Getting the Taliban to the negotiating table will be tough enough; getting it to yes will be an even taller order.

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WNU Editor: Another sobering analysis on the Afghan war.