Afghan reconciliation strategy should reflect Pashtun culture

How do wars end in the tribal society of Afghanistan? That's one of the interesting questions that was highlighted by President Hamid Karzai's visit to Washington last week.

During their well-scripted news conference at the White House, both Karzai and President Obama said they favored a process of outreach to the Taliban. And both presidents endorsed, as a start, the "peace jirga" that Karzai will host in Kabul in several weeks.

The Afghan leader envisions a Taliban dialogue that eventually could include the dominant Quetta Shura, headed by Mohammad Omar, and the allied group headed by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar.

"It's clear that any negotiation will have to take account of Pakistani interests in a constructive way," said the administration official. "They're telling us that they want to participate, and they are awaiting Karzai's game plan."

One thing that should be obvious by now is that you don't make much progress with Pashtun leaders by slapping them around in public. This is a culture that prizes dignity and detests humiliation. Attempts to shame people into capitulation usually backfire.

Once the desire for an honorable peace is clear, the tribal elders gather in a jirga and frame a temporary truce, known as a teega. The parties gather, agree to pay reparations, and the Pashtun code of generous hospitality, known as melmastia, takes over.

Obama said several times last week that he isn't seeking a military victory in Afghanistan but a political accord. If such an agreement can be reached, both sides somehow will have to agree that insults have been avenged and honor has been restored. Otherwise, in that part of the world, people just keep on fighting. - Ending the Afghan war the Pashtun way

US should listen to Afghan people's opinion: Wali Karzai‎
خلیلزاد: د کرزي سفر اړیکې ښې کولای شي؟

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