Designing an Afghan Peace Process in Comparative Perspective

The increasing consensus about the desirability of a negotiated peace process in Afghanistan has been accompanied by doubts about its feasibility. The September assassination of Afghan High Peace Council Chairman Burhanuddin Rabbani only bolstered those doubts. Nevertheless, interest in a negotiated solution persists, and “reconciliation” remains on the agenda of the International Conference on Afghanistan at Bonn on December 5. The design of a potential peace process can have an important impact on the chances of a viable negotiation and the quality and durability of its outcome. As yet, though, there are few detailed proposals for mechanisms to advance such a process in Afghanistan. While every conflict is unique, current efforts to end the war can build more on lessons learned from peace processes in other countries.

The authors of two recent USIP Peaceworks, Designing a Comprehensive Peace Process for Afghanistan and Beyond Power-Sharing: Institutional Options for an Afghan Peace Process, that analyze the requirements of an Afghan peace process, discussed the particular challenges presented by the Afghan conflict and some lessons from comparative international experience for overcoming them.

Speakers

Hamish Nixon, panelist
Project Coordinator
United States Institute of Peace / Peace Research Institute Oslo
Caroline Hartzell, panelist
2010-2011 Jennings Randolph Fellow
United States Institute of Peace
Lisa Schirch, panelist
Director
3P Human Security
Nilofar Sakhi, panelist
former Country Director
Open Society Institute - Afghanistan
Andrew Wilder, moderator
Director, Afghanistan and Pakistan Programs
United States Institute of Peace