Peace processes in Afghanistan, M-E run into rough weather
Sunday, 24 October 2010
From Fazle Rashid
NEW YORK, Oct 23: The US brokered peace processes both in Afghanistan and Middle-East have run into rough weather. There is little hope in Kabul that the secret negotiations and exploratory dialogue will bear fruit. And in the Middle-East, it is needless to point out, Israel's refusal to see reason and its stubborness is thwarting the peace move.
Israel defying world opinion has started building new settlements in the occupied areas in the West Bank since the expiry of the freeze casting a shadow of grave doubts whether the peace dialogue with Palestine will resume.
UN special emissary to the region described the Israeli move as alarming. He said the settlements are illegal under international law. The proliferation of new settlements in the occupied areas is the biggest hurdle to direct peace talks.
Palestinians have set their face against the peace talks after two sessions with Israel declining to stop new settlements.
The White House and the State Department are pressing Israel to renew the moratorium. Palestine has made it clear that they would not return to negotiating table unless Israel stops new settlements. People on both sides believe that peace process is unlikely to produce a breakthrough even if " US succeeds in breaking the impasse" on settlements.
And in Kabul all agree that peace process is picking but with a caution that it is still in early stages. General David Petraeus, the Nato commander has ordered his forces to help contacts by offering safe passage to Taleban leaders. Nato claims it has regained hold on the battlefields but State Department and the White House are both keen on seeing a negotiated settlement of the nine-year war in which billions of dollar have been spent and thousands of innocent unarmed men, women and children have died.
Insurgents in Afghanistan are regularly meeting with Hamid Karzai and mediators from UN and Saudi Arabia but without any positive outcome. Afghanistan is seeking Saudi help to back " its plans to lure the fighters from insurgency with offer of jobs, homes or cash ".
US is urging Pakistan to play a constructive role. President Obama had an exclusive meeting with Pakistan's army chief Gen. Ashfaq Kayani. Pakistan has told US if the intension is to secure Afghanistan without Pakistan's involvement then it will not work.
NEW YORK, Oct 23: The US brokered peace processes both in Afghanistan and Middle-East have run into rough weather. There is little hope in Kabul that the secret negotiations and exploratory dialogue will bear fruit. And in the Middle-East, it is needless to point out, Israel's refusal to see reason and its stubborness is thwarting the peace move.
Israel defying world opinion has started building new settlements in the occupied areas in the West Bank since the expiry of the freeze casting a shadow of grave doubts whether the peace dialogue with Palestine will resume.
UN special emissary to the region described the Israeli move as alarming. He said the settlements are illegal under international law. The proliferation of new settlements in the occupied areas is the biggest hurdle to direct peace talks.
Palestinians have set their face against the peace talks after two sessions with Israel declining to stop new settlements.
The White House and the State Department are pressing Israel to renew the moratorium. Palestine has made it clear that they would not return to negotiating table unless Israel stops new settlements. People on both sides believe that peace process is unlikely to produce a breakthrough even if " US succeeds in breaking the impasse" on settlements.
And in Kabul all agree that peace process is picking but with a caution that it is still in early stages. General David Petraeus, the Nato commander has ordered his forces to help contacts by offering safe passage to Taleban leaders. Nato claims it has regained hold on the battlefields but State Department and the White House are both keen on seeing a negotiated settlement of the nine-year war in which billions of dollar have been spent and thousands of innocent unarmed men, women and children have died.
Insurgents in Afghanistan are regularly meeting with Hamid Karzai and mediators from UN and Saudi Arabia but without any positive outcome. Afghanistan is seeking Saudi help to back " its plans to lure the fighters from insurgency with offer of jobs, homes or cash ".
US is urging Pakistan to play a constructive role. President Obama had an exclusive meeting with Pakistan's army chief Gen. Ashfaq Kayani. Pakistan has told US if the intension is to secure Afghanistan without Pakistan's involvement then it will not work.