Ethno-Nationalistic Dimensions of Afghan Conflict and Prospects of Reconciliation after American Exit

Abstract

Afghanistan came into being after the fragmentation of Persian and Moghul Empires,
essentially a process of fission - a proclivity that has since been deeply imbedded in the
Afghan socio-political culture. Historically, Afghan national dynamics have been marred
with the internal disharmony and external military invasions that not only promoted
instability but also seriously impeded evolution of national integrity in the country.
After the exit of the coalition forces and return of the Taliban at Kabul, Afghanistan
continues to find itself entrapped in ethno-nationalistic conflict, making a broad-based
and sustainable reconciliation vital for the survival of the country. However, the
challenge of reconciling Afghan society seems even arduous when decades of internal
conflict, discord and trust deficit on the basis of ethno-nationalistic divergences is taken
into account. This paper aims at dilating upon the historical antecedents of Afghan
internal conflict emanating from ethnic dissentions and evaluates the prospects of
reconciliation after American exit.