Failure of Syrian peace talks intensifies the civil war

The failure of the second international peace talks in Geneva has caused frustration and anger among all quarters concerned about the Syrian conflict and consequently, the long-running war seems to be getting further intensified. While various interpretations are given about the extent of the failed talks, the Syrian rebels look certain that the war would continue and little prospects exist for its cessation. They are putting pressure on their international backers for arms as the regime of President Bashar al-Assad appears relatively more comfortable at the moment.
The much-awaited second round of peace talks on the complex Syrian tangle began in Geneva on February 10 and concluded on February 15 without making any headway. Even though the government and the rebel sides sought to put up a brave face following the week-long talks with both sticking to their respective positions, UN peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi said the inconclusive discussions have made no progress, but everything is not lost. The delegation of President Assad ruled out prospects of any major concessions to the rebels in the talks in future, while the other side initially boasted that it was their victory to force the regime to negotiating table. Their positions are vastly different as neither of the sides is willing to give the impression of shifting from its ground. The second Geneva talks took place after painstaking efforts, as the UN-brokered the meeting supported by two world powers - USA and Russia.
The warring sides of the Syrian conflict finally met in Geneva after United Nations peace envoy averted a collapse in the crucial talks that initially appeared uncertain. They refused to meet in the same room and preferred to talk through mediators as the rebels were more hostile in approach to have direct talks with the regime side. The rebels wanted a commitment from the powers who are mediating the peace talks that president Assad agreed to a transitional government in Syria and facilitate the process of reconciliation by stepping down. Not surprisingly, the regime considered such attitude as unacceptable and a deadlock persisted over the start of the crucial talks. Fortunately, the perilous situation was salvaged, thanks to the efforts of UN peace envoy Lakdhar Brahmi, who made great efforts in convincing both sides for adopting conciliatory approach for larger interests. The meeting resumed with a break for a few days and then concluded on a bitter note. The big powers backing the two sides are now accusing each other for lack of progress in the discussions.
The Syrian civil war is now in its third year with no sign of a resolution of the conflict that has taken more than one hundred and ten thousand lives and rendered 1.5 million people homeless. The rebels fighting the regime of President Assad are hell-bent on the their demand that he quit power, but the Damascus government is equally adamant not to give in and instead, it wants the rebels to surrender, which is too much of asking by the regime. It is in this diametrically opposite positions of the two sides that the Geneva -1 talks took place earlier without any progress and now the Geneva-2 talks ended amidst a growing urgency of a breakthrough in the conflict which is becoming increasing bloody, causing all round destruction.
 Russia and the US reached a landmark accord on the elimination of the chemical weapons of the Syrian regime on September 14, 2013 when an American military assault on Syria looked inevitable. Washington felt that the Assad regime must be "punished" for alleged use of chemical weapons in the conflict - an allegation the regime denied.
As the Geneva-2 peace talks ended, the government of Assad looked confident in remaining firm on the saddle and said it took part in the talks because it wanted peace. Information minister Omran al-Zohbi said that no major concessions would be given to the rebels as the Syrian government made no concession to Israel in last 25 years and also none to several nations like Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Jordan in recent times. But Ahmad Jarba, the Syrian opposition leader, said that fighting would now further escalate and the regime would be forced to give concessions. He assured the rebels that they would receive more arms in near future.
Meanwhile, the US is reportedly also now mulling providing arms to the rebels and this is an indication that the war could prolong more and get more complicated. Another report said Saudi Arabia, a major financer for the rebels, is exploring possibilities of purchasing arms from Pakistan for the rebels and Pakistan's chief of army staff Gen Raheel Sharif has recently been to the kingdom when discussions also took place on this issue. Barring unlikely positive development, the Syrian civil war looks set to be prolonged and unfortunately, more deaths and destruction would automatically follow. It remains to be seen if the big powers and the UN embark on a new initiative for paving the way for fresh peace talks although such a possibility appears difficult at this stage.
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