Right after the 20th century, when the world experienced fighting with WW1, WW2, the Cold War, and even their aftermaths in the form of capitalism, colonialism, socialism, etc the beginning of the 21st century brought itself two most horrible “ism”, terrorism and extremism.
World Politics have changed drastically after 9/11, which not only gave a twist turn to international politics but has also termed the landlocked country Afghanistan as War torn country. The US invasion of Afghanistan after 9/11 not only changed geopolitics but also made the world particularly the Asia region fight terrorism, religious extremism, and even violent extremism. This has significantly affected many countries, from superpowers like US and Russia to Asian countries Afghanistan and Pakistan in Particular; and even divided the country Afghanistan into two major spares, the US influenced the Afghan Government and Taliban’s Afghanistan. Moreover, religious extremism has turned some freedom fighters into violent extremists in the eyes of others. This whole scenario has drastically affected the relations of Afghanistan and the US with the rest of the world in international relations.
Turkey has skin in the game
Even after 20 years of this disturbing scenario, when the US is in the process of withdrawing its forces along with Nato forces, the image & future of Afghanistan and its relations with the rest of the world is dependent on a process known as the “Afghan Peace Process”. While healing Afghanistan and backing up its stability, it requires healthy relations with different countries, especially with Nato countries; but not all the countries have good terms with each other. If Pakistan is fulfilling its due responsibility as a neighbor as well as being a Muslim country, India interferes with Pakistan. When China comes forward to deal with the South Asian region it has to face superpowers, and when the US takes the lead then it has to face Russia as mandatory.
Consequently, the Afghan Peace Process demands a country that is simply acceptable to all; from Super Powers like the US and Russia to leading Economic giant China, from neighbor countries Pakistan and Iran to another Nuclear power in the region India. Hence, while fulfilling this requirement Turkey comes forward to take a lead in the Afghan Peace Process. On historical, geographical, cultural, economic, and religious grounds, Turkey’s role in bringing peace to Afghanistan makes perfect sense.
Afghan-Turkey Relation: An Overview
Turkey has a long and good history of maintaining relations with major players in international politics. In the past Turkey has been a mediator in border disputes between Iran and Afghanistan. Most importantly, Afghanistan considers Turkey as a key player for the success of the Afghan Peace Process, as both countries have strong diplomatic ties. Turkey and Afghanistan have enjoyed 100-year-old friendly ties; in the process of maintaining Afghan-Turkey relations, the Turkish government has provided Afghanistan with billions of dollars’ worth of financial aid for reconstruction programmers, Turkey has given scholarships to 4,000 Afghan students and more than 200,000 Afghans have been living in Turkey. 
As a predominantly Muslim country, Turkey has provided asylum to many Afghan activists and intellectuals threatened by assassinations. Furthermore, while supporting the Afghan Peace Process, Turkey can facilitate Afghanistan to maintain political stability by strengthening the existing but unstable political structures, security, and institutions. As a result, this can restore peace in the region by successfully tackling terrorism and extremism. On the other hand, Turkey’s Leadership always plays a balanced role between the Afghan government and Taliban representatives, to bring peace, as both parties have due responsibilities in this long-awaited peace mission. Moreover, Turkey’s strategic importance with its membership in NATO forces and OIC adds positive contribution to intra-Afghan peace negotiation and can help bridge the gap between Afghanistan and international stakeholders. Turkey is perceived as a neutral party, more than Qatar. Besides that, Ankara has been keenly observing the outcome of the U.S.-Taliban peace deal.
Turkey has deployed thousands of troops to Afghanistan as part of the NATO-led mission. Since the US has commanded the NATO mission in Afghanistan, around 12,000 foreign troops from 28 NATO allies and 14 other partner nations agreed to support the NATO mission in Afghanistan. Now Turkish forces train and advise the emerging Afghan security forces. According to the Governor of Kabul, Zebiullah Müceddidi, “Afghans respect and trust the Turkish Army as The Turkish military is making a huge difference by putting people at the center. NATO forces are learning from Turkish soldiers every day.” The Turkish strategy includes building medical facilities and schools and providing free medical services. Turkey also contributes to national capacity building in Afghanistan by providing to Afghan military and police officers.
US-Turk Engagements
However, the benefits of Turkey’s role in the peace process could go beyond Afghanistan. The important confidence-building measure for DC and Ankara is potentially refreshing the relationship between the US and Turkey. 
The US-Turkish bilateral relationship and cooperation can certainly work better inside the NATO framework. Ankara and DC should also work together to pave the way for other NATO candidate countries like Georgia, Ukraine, and Bosnia and Herzegovina to finally join the Alliance. After Trump, the Biden administration will likely continue to work closely with Turkey. In terms of intra-Afghan peace Talks, Turkey’s role as a mediator requires to be acknowledged. U.S. and Turkey have a 70-year-long history of holding strong bilateral relations. Iran and Russia have the upper hand against the US but Turkey cannot afford to disturb the relations with the US. So, instead of focusing on some stabbing points, like the situation in northern Syria, and the S-400 purchase from Russia, both sides should focus more on achievable areas of cooperation.
Moreover, another striking outcome of the US-Turkey coalition can be beneficial for Central Asia, as this is the region where the US and Turkey have mutual and overlapping interests. Both are curious about increasing Russian and Chinese involvement in the region. The US wants European countries to take advantage of this region’s energy resources so that they can overcome their dependency on Russia. Meanwhile, Turkey aims to be the energy hub of the region. Additionally, Ankara and DC can explore areas of cooperation in Ukraine, as both have agreed on massive defense equipment sales and support for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Besides, Turkey has been one of the most vocal supporters of Ukraine’s territorial integrity in the wake of Russian aggression since 2014.
US Strategy for Afghanistan
Finally, the US has put forward the idea that Turkey must host the next round of peace talks between the Afghan Government and the Taliban. Since then, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken wrote a letter to Afghan President Ashraf Ghani urging to speed up and settle the peace process with the help of U.S. Russia, China, Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, and India. The letter represents the interest of the Biden administration to finalize the peace process.
Hence U.S. offered to the Turkish government to host a senior-level meeting between Afghan government representatives and the Taliban to finalize a peace agreement. The peace deal wishes to give major benefits to the people of Afghanistan as happened last year when two sides signed in Qatar; when Afghanistan witnessed fewer attacks and financial stability. The meeting was decided to be held first in Istanbul on the 14th of April and then on April 16th. But then Taliban spokesman Mohammed Naeem sent a message to the news agencies that they can’t take part in Turkey’s conference on 16 April as discussions on attending the conference are underway. It was later scheduled for the 24th of April.
The core idea to plan this meeting is to get to a solution before May 1. As U.S. is supposed to withdraw its military from Afghanistan by May 1 as part of a deal with the Taliban, former US President Donald Trump made more than a year ago. But now U.S. President Joe Biden has said that the deadline would be “tough” to meet, as the speedy exit of the US armed forces from Afghanistan may lead to other chaos. Joe Biden announced the complete withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan till September 11, 2021. Joe Biden is the 4th US President directing the US army in Afghanistan and he has no plan to leave this task for the next one. As 2400 US army men have died and $ 200 Billion has been invested in this 20-year-old war. Now 2500 US army men are left in Afghanistan, the figure was 1 lack in 2011. Moreover, all Nato forces have also announced to leave Afghanistan from May 1st to September 11. Last week US military began shipping equipment and closing basis ahead of its military pullout from Afghanistan till 11th September. US Defense Department officials said that they are also winding down contracts with local service providers. Meanwhile, Head of US Central Command General Frank McKenzie told Congress that Afghanistan’s military still needs some continued American support. Nonetheless, Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg while announcing this has said that “Now Afghanistan is responsible for its peace”.
Taliban’s Stance to Threat
Since, the Taliban didn’t respond well to the proposed dates of April 14th and 16th, then 24th of April; there is still no assurance that the Taliban will attend the meeting whenever it will be held. The resistance from the Taliban’s side is clear, the more the US delays its withdrawal from the country, the more the Taliban will continue to violate any peace agreement. 
Taliban want to end the US era on May 1; so the time is running short and critical. As Taliban has already warned that they don’t want to repeat the 1992 civil war that resulted in the collapse of the Afghan state. The Taliban have declared on their website since “the withdrawal of forces is being delayed by several months, the American side will be held responsible for all future consequences, and not the Islamic Emirate.” So the world is worried about imagining what will happen between May and September and even before that. Recently, 20 militants have been killed in airstrikes in Laghman province. 
The militants were killed when security forces targeted their hideouts in Alishang district. If an agreement is not reached soon, violence in the country will surge. For instance, Taliban leadership feels insecure with the idea that they are deceived by the U.S. as the U.S. is not fulfilling the commitment made last year in Doha. On the flip side, Joe Biden focused on the assurance by the Afghan Government and the Taliban for not using Afghan land against the US. Meanwhile, People of Afghan civil society are concerned about their economic and social well-being in the future.
Last month, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken gave both the Taliban and the Afghan government an eight-page proposed peace plan and advised them to revise it before coming to Turkey for the meeting. This peace plan called for the protection of women’s and minorities’ rights, constitutional reform, as well as the establishment of an interim administration. Most importantly, the plan also included the setting up of an Islamic Advisory Council with an apparent concession to the Taliban. But Afghan President Ashraf Ghani presented an alternative to Blinken’s proposal, in which he would head an interim government until elections could be held within months. On the contrary, the Taliban have made it clear they would not accept a government headed by Ghani, and they have yet to offer an alternative to Binken’s proposal.
Taliban will not end the war if they do not come to power and The Afghan government is not equal to them militarily. So the proposed idea of interim government by the US can be the solution and Turkey is supposed to take the lead in making them understand along with all the regional players. Whether the Ankara or Istanbul conference will go ahead or will remain hanging in the air. The key concern to bring Peace in Afghanistan will remain the same, with or without the U.S. withdrawal.
Regional Participation & Pakistan’s Role
So the US require cooperation from all the regional states, Biden administration’s plan on “regional participation” with representatives from Iran, Turkey, India, Pakistan, Russia, and China in the peace talks helped Biden demonstrate his commitment to multilateralism, as the US believes that the solution to Afghanistan’s problems will come from the region. 
Particularly, as said Pakistan, China, and Russia are the most important players in the Afghan Peace Process; and Pakistan is supposed to take more productive measures to help Afghanistan and to balance the relationship with both the parties in Afghanistan, the government, and the Taliban. Many Afghan leaders view Pakistan, as an important link to bringing the Taliban to the negotiating table. Meanwhile, The Taliban, project themselves as the representatives of majority Pashtun sensibilities, and Pakistan and Afghanistan share the same Pashtun border and the same language. Moreover, the refugees from Afghanistan go to Pakistan not Turkey. So no one can replace Pakistan’s important strategic role in the Afghan Peace Process and as Turkey and Pakistan already have formed a strategic alliance and strong ties in recent years, Islamabad is well placed to pressure the Taliban to come forward for a peace deal.
On 26th of April, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi returned to Islamabad after completing his two-day visit to Turkey. The purpose of his visit was to attend the trilateral ministerial meeting of Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Turkey. The foreign ministers of Turkey, Pakistan, and Afghanistan have pushed the Afghan Taliban to confirm their presence and commitment to negotiation and settlement of the peace process in Afghanistan. Three ministers underlined “the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire” after the recent attack, to end the violence while providing a favorable atmosphere for peace talks. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister appreciated Turkey for holding the conference even while facing the COVID situation, keeping in view the importance of the Afghan peace process. He emphasized the need for Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Turkey’s trilateral engagement to discuss Afghan peace even if the Taliban will not participate. Turkey also supports Pakistan on the issue of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
Regional Participation & Turkey’s Role
Nevertheless, engaging regional powers or many stakeholders itself creates as many problems as it seeks to solve. It is difficult for all parties to stick to the agreed timeline at the same time. 
So no one can be blamed for any further delay. Furthermore, there might be a chance of complications and disagreement instead of agreement with the involvement of different regional actors in the Peace Process, like Pakistan, India, the US, and Russia. Every country has its interest first, the interest of convergence and divergence might come across, every country is looking forward to the peace process from its angle of security and strategic advantage. For instance, India and Pakistan have a mutual interest in the Kashmir issue more than anything else. Russia and the US are first competing with each other over regional dominance and then with the new economic giant China. Meanwhile, Iran cannot afford to be leftover being the neighboring country. So with the involvement of all these regional actors, Turkey appears as the Neutral one and is acceptable to all. Though Turkey certainly has its interests as well but is not in conflict with anyone. So World views Turkey as the key player to take a lead in the Afghan Peace Process. Ankara announced that the talks will be held after the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan but no new date has been set.
However, no matter the involvement of all major parties, Afghanistan must take responsibility for the success or failure of future proceedings.
