Realizing Peace in Afghanistan
In the modern era, after a prolonged war and a Soviet occupation, Afghanistan plunged into civil war. Now, the Afghan government is engaged in a war with the Taliban.
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Afghanistan, an Islamic country straddling South Asia and Central Asia, can in reality be a prosperous and peaceful country and a place to long for.
With its 30 million people, the country has a long history of civilization that has intersected with great nations throughout the centuries. It is unfortunate that, in the past 40 years, the country has been hit by unending conflicts and wars for various complicated reasons.
In the modern era, after a prolonged war and a Soviet occupation, Afghanistan plunged into civil war. Now, the Afghan government is engaged in a war with the Taliban. Bombs explode, guns are fired, and civilians continue to die.
Numerous initiatives to pave the pay for peace were launched, including by implementing a fully-fledged democracy through a general election. As it turned out, democracy could not solve the country’s problems. The United Nations, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and many other international parties have helped the country to untangle itself from the vicious circle of conflict. However, a state of war remains, and blood-spilling continues in Afghanistan.
Indonesia’s role
Where must Afghanistan look toward next? One of the answers is, of course, Indonesia – the Muslim-majority country with hundreds of ethnicities, thousands of local languages and a vast area. Most uniquely, Indonesia has remained in relative peace and harmony. Despite a history of conflicts, including in Ambon, Poso, Sampit and Aceh, the archipelago always remains united in peace.
I believe that this was what Afghan President Ashraf Ghani was looking for in his official visit to Indonesia in April last year, which was followed by a visit by Afghan High Peace Council Chairman Mohammad Karim Khalili in November last year. Indonesia and Afghanistan have enjoyed 62 years of diplomatic relations.
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani (right) and Indonesian President, Joko Widodo, shakes hands at presidential palace in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Jan. 29, 2018.
On Jan. 29, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo visited Afghanistan and was received warmly and enthusiastically in Kabul, despite the bomb that took place only a few hours before. After six hours in Kabul, the President and his entourage returned home. Since the series of meetings, Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi has deftly made moves to fulfill President Jokowi’s request to help Afghanistan achieve peace.
On Tuesday, Feb. 27, Vice President Jusuf Kalla visited Kabul to meet with President Ghani, Khalili and several other Afghan leaders from various backgrounds.
Kalla is not an unfamiliar figure among proponents of world peace. He is renowned for his role in achieving peace in Ambon, Poso and Aceh. Kalla’s experience has reaffirmed President Ghani’s wish to seek Indonesia’s help in securing peace in the mullah’s country.
In addition to his experiences in weaving peace in various regions, Kalla is also deemed a representation of Indonesian Muslims due to his position as head of the Indonesian Mosque Council (DMI).
Afghanistan also relies on Indonesia for its neutrality, what was explicitly expressed by Kalla during his visit to Afghanistan.
Indonesian Vice President Muhammad Jusuf Kalla (center left) and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani (center right) shake hands after a group photo with delegates during the 2nd Kabul Process conference at the Presidential Palace in Kabul, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018. Ghani is calling on the Taliban to take part in peace talks to "save the country."
“Indonesia is steadfastly neutral. We have neither political nor border interests. We are too far from Afghanistan. Our interest is to help our brothers and sisters in Afghanistan. This is about humanitarianism,” Kalla said.
For Afghanistan, only a neutral country can help solve its conflict.
The Taliban factor
Until now, many are doubting that true peace can be achieved in Afghanistan. The problem, as perceived by many, lies in the highly factionalized Taliban. The group has too many factions, rendering it difficult to find a clear line of command that is followed by all of its members. The Taliban is in fact entangled by its own problems as a result of this; many of its followers are in conflict with one another. How can there be peace without one clear leadership figure that is followed by all members?
I am of a different opinion. It is true that the Taliban is highly factionalized, but each of these factions has a clear and solid line of command. Each faction leader has a moral authority and is deeply respected by his members. This is understandable as the Taliban was born with the foundation of a religious ideology. Apart from that, Afghanistan’s social structure of a patron clan is based on ethnicities.
This combination of religious ideological foundation and traditional ethnic-based values resulted in a deeply hierarchical line of command between the leaders and the followers. When the imam says something, the followers will immediately say, “Amen”.
Take for example Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada’s faction, currently the largest in the Taliban. His authority is deeply respected. This is similar to the Haqqani faction, who is also deeply respected by his followers. Mullah Rosul’s faction is also renowned for his followers’ deep devotion to him.
With all of this, I truly believe that if the Taliban leaders wished for peace, Afghanistan would be peaceful; the followers would follow their leaders.
Hamid Awaluddin
One thing we need to know is that both the government and the Taliban are too tired to continue this war. Everyone knows that the war will never be beneficial for any one side. There will be only misery for both sides.
Both have agreed that Indonesia must the facilitate peace process.
In Aceh, there is an old saying: Pat ujeun hana pirang, pat prang tan reda (The time always comes for the rain to stop and the time always comes for wars to end). If the conflict in Aceh can end peacefully, why can’t the war in Afghanistan also end peacefully?
HAMID AWALUDIN, Lecturer at Hasanuddin University’s School of Law
