Pakistan and challenges to an Afghan settlement (2020-2021)

Agreement for Bringing Peace to Afghanistansigned between the United States and the Taliban in February 2020 set the main goals: the withdrawal of US troops/NATO from Afghanistan by 1 May, 2021 and guarantees that Taliban will prevent the use of the soil of Afghanistan against the security of the United States and its allies.

The recognition by the United States of the legitimacy of the Taliban made it difficult intra-Afghan negotiations in 2020-2021.

The article analyzes the mediation role of Pakistan in the intra-Afghan settlement. The main issues - Taliban fragmentation, lack of trust and respect between Taliban and the Afghan government, ending violence and achieving peace on the ground.

Islamabad sees one of the reasons for the failure of the power-sharing agreement in the neighboring country in ignoring the critical issue of afghan public participation. Pakistan has expanded its cooperation with political and ethnic leaders to strengthen Pakistan-Afghanistan relations.

Emphasizing the non-military settlement in Afghanistan, Islamabad met as a challenge the plans of US President Joe Biden in January 2021 to revise the US-Taliban Agreement 2020 to stay in Afghanistan longer and find a updated politically palatable for the new US administration exit from the U.S.’ longest armed conflict.

By joining the team of international mediators, Pakistan is calling for peace and abandoning the competitive politics of conflict.

Keywords

Afghanistan, Pakistan, USA, Taliban, negotiation, agreement

Received

12.02.2021

Publication date

28.04.2021

Number of characters

30485

Cite

GOST	Zamaraeva N., Ravandi-Fadai L. Pakistan and challenges to an Afghan settlement (2020-2021) // Asia and Africa Today – 2021. – Issue 4 C. 25-32 [Electronic resource]. URL: https://asaf-today.ru/S032150750014643-9-1 (circulation date: 26.04.2024). DOI: 10.31857/S032150750014643-9
MLA	Zamaraeva, Natalia A, Ravandi-Fadai, Lana M. "Pakistan and challenges to an Afghan settlement (2020-2021)." Asia and Africa Today 4 (2021):25-32. DOI: 10.31857/S032150750014643-9
APA	Zamaraeva N., Ravandi-Fadai L. (2021). Pakistan and challenges to an Afghan settlement (2020-2021). Asia and Africa Today (4), pp.25-32 DOI: 10.31857/S032150750014643-9

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