ABSTRACT

Conflict Resolution Research in Afghanistan
Ajmal Khan

 

The paper in the introductory part would be based on the different phases of conflict dynamics, major players in such conflicts, the role of external elements, transformation of conflict from one phase to another in Afghanistan. The conflict which begun with Saur Revolution in 1978 by members of the PDPA (People Democratic Party of Afghanistan) lasted for 14 years. During this period the northern neighbor of Afghanistan (former Soviet Union) invaded the country and caused a chaos which cost the lives of over one million Afghans. By the time Mujahideen took over Afghanistan in 1992, the Soviet had already withdrawn its forces and afterwards the civil war begun that killed thousands of Afghans. The next phase of conflict began with emergence of a radical Taliban who ruled more than 90% of the country from 1994 to 2001. The Taliban were ousted from Afghanistan in 2001 after the 9/11 attacks and operation enduring freedom was commenced after 9/11. From 2002 to 2004 the diversion of resources to Iraq, US aversion to nation building in Afghanistan, deals/compromises with commanders and warlords paved the way for the current conflict and the resurgence of Taliban happened in 2005. The re-emphasis on the “right war” – focus shifts back on Afghanistan in 2008.

In the second part of the paper would focus on the Importance and Scope of Research for understanding of conflicts in Afghanistan. Research is tool that is used as a key for policy making and advice. However, this research faces challenges in Afghanistan because most research is grounded in Afghanistan in western frameworks and most of the assessments made by people who are outsiders who have never lived in Afghanistan; thus, a historical context is missing. Also, Afghanistan is not one country but 380 different districts and each district is unique therefore merits special attention. A one-size-fits-all approach would not work in Afghanistan. The optimum solution is to understand the reality through a framework that is grounded in local context.
The Afghan society is greatly devastated by three decades of war and the state is weak in terms of provision and delivering of services so there is a vast potential of conflict. Role of Tribal System, Social Backwardness and Cultural Norms could have impact on the conflict resolution. The tribal structure has largely been dismantled and that we need to move past it eventually and think more nationally than on ethnic/tribal lines. It may still be far fletched but three decades of conflict can render any system obsolete. And how culture (Pashtun wali, for instance) affects/mitigates conflict. And how it serves as a code of conduct and overlaps with religion would be written on in detail.

The last part of the paper would focus on the Future of Conflict Resolution in Afghanistan and Awareness among the people about the conflict Management, specifically, the emphasis would be on: Conflict resolution frameworks need to be developed locally, not superimposed from outside, All issues interact – security, development, governance, livelihoods, etc – but each needs to be understood in terms of how it affects others and Afghanistan’s realities are highly localized. Chora and Khas Uruzgan have different realities. Saydabad and Chak have different issues. Each district should be the unit of analyses.

 

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