Afghan Diplomacy in Steering Peace : Inept Afghan diplomacy and challenges to the peace settlement

Abstract: This research paper highlights the prospects and challenges of ongoing peace process efforts.Since February 2020, peace talks among Taliban and Afghan government have been a historicalmoment for long awaiting peace to come to Afghanistan.The Afghan nation, the world, and regional players have embraced this historic milestone andare determined to support the Afghan government's efforts for peace, and the Taliban have beenencouraged to take a strategic posture in peace talks, trying to achieve a long-term outcome.This study aims to recognize the ongoing development in the peace process in light of eventstaken place in the Afghan diplomacy to steer peace. The prospective of peace is examined bytheories of Charles Webel & Johan Galtung’sa Peace Building and Oliver Richmond’s PeaceFormation if peace will come out of the Intra-Afghan talks. The study also aims to focus onstrengths and weaknesses of the peace negotiation process to identify possible causes andfactors that hinder the peace process.Keywords: Afghanistan, Peace, Intra-Afghan Peace Talks, Peace Formation, Diplomacy, Statebuilding, Ashraf Ghani, Afghan Peace