When 800 soldiers participating in operation Tura Ghar entered the dangerous Baluchi valley in January, an Afghan mediator was waiting anxiously. Backed by diplomats based at Camp Holland, he had tried to persuade the Afghan militants to stop fighting. He appears to have succeeded. "Trust tribal leaders and mediators like me."
The man, whom we'll call Abdul, belongs to the main tribe in the Baluchi valley and was one of the main mediators between the Dutch troops and the local population.
Abdul immediately adds he wasn't the top mediator. That was a mysterious tribal leader, whose name no-one wants to reveal. Using this former Taliban was a risky bet. "His identity is top secret. I can't tell you who he is because of his security", Abdul says.
Abdul has been helping the Dutch troops make the Baluchi valley safer for some time. Before that, he had witnessed military operations for years. But a year ago, when these were still failing to produce lasting results, he decided to get in touch with the Dutch. "I think the Afghans too were weary of the of ceaseless fighting and eager to join peace talks."
- "How did you manage to mediate between the Dutch and Afghans?"
"I have always served my people in this area. That's why they trust me. Behind the scenes I have worked on these peace talks for a year along with other tribal leaders and other important people in the area. The Dutch played an important role but Governor Hamdam and the head of police also made an important contribution to achieve this peace."
- "What did the Dutch offer "your" Afghans? Money, something else?"
"The Afghans in the Baluchi valley haven't yet received anything concrete in exchange for their support. We told the Dutch: if you want lasting peace, you have to deliver. That hadn't happened until then. You have to give people in the valley projects, such as building schools, roads and hospitals. The Dutch have promised to do this in the near future. I'm one hundred percent certain the Dutch will keep their word."
- "How did you deal with the Afghans?"
"Mostly by talking to them. Over time more and more tribal leaders joined our talks. I think I somehow managed to convince them. Many of these men had been part, one way or another, of the fighting, also against the Dutch. Animosity in the region was intense. I just kept begging them: don't let your sons continue fighting against the enemy, don't do it, it's not the solution."
- "When the Dutch began their operation in January, there hardly seemed to be any fighting."
- "Will the area now remain safe?"
"Complete stability will only come about if the governor, the head of police and the Dutch really deliver. And, after these long talks of the past year, they must also keep talking with the tribal leaders and mediators such as myself. Only then will success be guaranteed."
*RNW translation (cl)
Tags: Afghanistan, Afghanistan conference, Baluchi valley, Camp Holland, Mullah Omar, Taliban, Tura Ghar