Progress and Pitfalls of “Peace-Building”

in Afghanistan begins.....

Two years after the adoption of the Afghanistan Compact, the political transition continues to face serious challenges. The Taliban and related armed groups and the drug economy represent

fundamental threats to still-fragile political, economic and social institutions.

Despite tactical successes by national and international military forces, the anti-Government elements are far from defeated.

Thirty-six out of 376 districts, including most districts in the east, south-east and south, remain largely inaccessible to Afghan officials and aid workers. This hinders the delivery of humanitarian

assistance to vulnerable people …

Meanwhile, poor governance and limited development efforts, particularly at the provincial and district levels, continue to result in political alienation that both

directly and indirectly sustain anti-Government elements.

1 Ban Ki-moon

1. UNDERSTANDING PEACE-BUILDING

This chapter intends to discuss the peace-building process underway in

Afghanistan. Therefore, a general discussion on the framework of peacebuilding will precede a specific analysis of the progress and pitfalls of

peace-building in Afghanistan (2001-08). Defining peace-building is a difficult task.

The term is broadly used and connotes activities that go beyond crisis intervention such as longer-term development, and

building of governance structures and institutions. The general understanding of the peace-building enterprise is largely influenced by the former US Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali’s vision and direction for peace-building in his 1992 document An Agenda for Peace.

To be continued..........