Afghanistan: Prospects for the Future

Lakhdar Brahimi

As we know from many peacemaking and peacekeeping endeavors over the past decades, ending conflict and returning peace and stability is an extremely difficult, complex, and uncertain process that requires steadfast commitment from the parties involved in the conflict as well as from the international community.

After 23 years of war, Afghanistan is in the midst of this endeavor. Before looking ahead to the future prospects for peace in Afghanistan, we must first look backward to Bonn and the central agreement underpinning the peace process.

With the fall of the Taliban in 2001, an opportunity emerged for the country to start on the long road back to peace. The peace talks convened at Bonn in November 2001 attempted to take advantage of that opportunity by capitalizing on the newfound commitment of the international community. The Bonn talks also manifested the deep yearning of most Afghans to return to peace. Building on this consensus, the Bonn Agreement defined a road map to peace, a process aimed at progressively achieving a more stable, legitimate government providing more justice, greater development, and lasting peace.

No two conflicts are alike and every peace process needs to be specific to the particular circumstances of a conflict. The Bonn Agreement is even more specific than most…

Lakhdar Brahimi is Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations for Afghanistan.