Peace talks between US Special Envoy Zalmay Khalilzad and the Taliban have reached a sensitive phase. The two sides might be close to reaching a formal deal that will enable a complete withdrawal of American troops in return for a guarantee from the Taliban that Afghan soil will not be used against the US. The ongoing series of peace talks between the US and the Taliban is unprecedented. Past efforts by the Afghan government to reach out to the Taliban did not result in any meaningful outcome. The Taliban has persistently argued that it is Washington rather than Kabul that it will talk to on any political settlement. The current peace talks have raised optimism as well as concern among ordinary Afghans and within their government. Putting an end to the conflict may not be easy, but a strong political will by the Trump administration shows that a settlement may be in the offing. The US has already lost some 2,500 of its personnel and spent close to $1 trillion in the 17-year conflict. About 45,000 members of the Afghan national security forces have been killed since 2014 alone, not including the many civilian victims. The Taliban has also sustained casualties. Thus the conflict is unsustainable for any side in terms of blood and money. The peace talks are taking place at a very critical stage, with the Afghan presidential election in July 2019. Both President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah are running for president. Their main concern may be the practicality and timing of a peace settlement, especially amid a presidential campaign. Any deal must pave the way for a comprehensive roadmap that is grounded in clear guarantees from all relevant parties. Ajmal Shams What if the Taliban demands an interim government, headed by a neutral figure, that includes the group as a precondition for reaching an agreement with the Afghan government instead of the planned election? Ghani has already rejected the idea of an interim government, and has insisted that intra-Afghan dialogue will result in a peace settlement within the confines of the constitution. Government leaders must realize that they were voted to power based on promises of bringing peace to the war-ravaged country, which is the top priority for Afghans as no development agenda can be achieved without sustainable peace and security. Regardless of who gets credit for achieving peace, Afghan leaders must show genuine commitment by synchronizing their efforts with Khalilzad’s. This requires putting national interests above narrow political interests by showing flexibility and supporting the spirit of the peace process. During the last 17 years of US engagement, Afghanistan has made major achievements in democracy, development and women’s participation in public life, to mention just a few. After years of isolation, Afghanistan has become an active member of the international community. Any reconciliation with the Taliban must ensure that the accomplishments of the past 17 years are preserved. Peace must be real and a win-win for all, including our regional partners. Any deal must pave the way for a comprehensive roadmap that is grounded in clear guarantees from all relevant parties, including countries in the region — especially Pakistan, which has a well-proven and profound influence on the Taliban. These guarantees should include Afghanistan’s territorial integrity, sovereignty and respect for the constitution. Peace requires patience and wisdom from all sides. Let us hope that the ongoing efforts result in a genuine and lasting peace, rather than a return to chaos and turmoil. Ajmal Shams, based in Kabul, is president of the Afghanistan Social Democratic Party. He was a deputy minister in the national unity government, and served as policy adviser to Ashraf Ghani before his presidential bid. Twitter: @ajmshams Disclaimer: Views expressed by writers in this section are their own and do not necessarily reflect Arab News" point-of-view