Role of Central Asian Republics in Afghan Peace Process The Need for Regional Approach for Lasting Peace in Afghanistan

Abstract

The war in Afghanistan is multi-dimensional and rooted back to the Soviet invasion in 1979, and later America intervenes after 9/11 in 2001. To bring peace in Afghanistan it is worth mentioning that the American efforts not enough alone to bring the Taliban and Afghan governments to the table for peace talks. Therefore, a regional approach to attain peace is much needed this time. To apply the inter-governmental cooperation paradigm, it is concluded that the regional cooperation on the state level in terms of enduring lasting peace in Afghanistan after the American withdrawal is inevitable. However, the Central Asian Republics (CARs) are not considered as major actors but these states have much to offer in supporting any possibility of new openings in the Afghan peace process by the means of accommodating diplomatic conferences, provision of their political support, reassuring cross border trade and cultural cooperation with war-torn Afghanistan. The Central Asian Republics can build further stable and prosperous Afghanistan independently and cooperatively while helping as a land bridge between land-locked Afghanistan and the inhabited, economically stable states in the region. The greater regional connectivity with Afghanistan may provide the chance to attain the desired objectives of the current peace process, which will solicit Afghanistan as a trade and sharing-based cultural partner instead of the threat and source of un-stability in the region. The Afghan stability is necessary to all in the region whether they are directly or indirectly linked with the Afghan reconciliation process. The data used in this study included both primary and secondary sources.