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War, inevitably, is the failure of diplomacy. The new war declared by the aggrieved but enraged US has invited universal anger and revulsion. The world's most powerful state has attacked the world's poorest. Devastation is being brought into the most devastated country. While America rains fire on mud hovels of Afghanistan, the world looks on with dismay at the unequal war. Seven million men, women, and children have been forced through fear and starvation to leave their homes.

They wonder why the world has abandoned them. If September 11 was a day of tragedy and mourning, they wonder why should the Afghan people must suffer. From an American tragedy, why must be born an Afghan tragedy. And while America is right in its sorrow and anger, the world is shocked at its retaliation on a poor country. The world shared its sorrow, but can't share its anger. The world universally abhors terrorism, but has rejected war. There should have been another way. Was diplomacy given its full opportunity? Has not America acted in haste, in anger?

Why could not the evidence against Osama be made public? These are some of the questions being asked. In the Muslim world, it is not just the pulpit that is incensed, it is also the bazaar. Most people in the Islamic world are agitating not for Osama but against war. But to many, if he is killed, the 21st century will consecrate him as the Imam Hussain of our times. If he survives, he will be revered as the Sultan Salahuddin Ayubi fighting Christian Crusaders.

Before upheavals overtake Muslim societies, it is vital that this non-war war is stopped. Instead of war, peace must prevail. Instead of discord, concord must prevail. Instead of destruction, reconstruction must be the order of the day. Confrontation must give way to disengagement, détente, and rapprochement.

The war on Afghanistan will not win America friends anywhere, much less in the Muslim world. America wonders why the Islamic world is up in arms against the New War, and ponders over the ways to win the hearts and minds of the Muslims.

It does not need to ponder too much or too long if it wants to understand. The fault does not lie in the Muslim heartland. The fault lies in the American mind. For too long America has supported terrorism against Muslims.

Look at Palestine, Kashmir, Chechnya and other places. If America sheds the cobwebs of insensitivity to Muslim causes and begins to press its awesome power for their solution, it would win the hearts and minds of the Muslim world. It must recognise the immense wrong it did to the Afghan nation when having achieved its ends in 1988, it walked away from it. One and a half million Afghans died so that the Soviet Union could be defeated. America cannot absolve itself of its moral responsibility for the destruction of Afghanistan. Nor can it continue to give excuses on behalf of Israel.

I think a turning point in the world affairs has come. The US must step back from war. The world expects it to match its economic and military might with moral might. To stand up for good against evil, for peace against war, for love against hate, for justice against high-handedness. As a necessary start to détente, it must halt its war against Afghanistan. This must not be seen as its defeat, but as a victory of peace. I know it can't be easy for President Bush. Peace does not come cheap. The key here is that both Bush and Mullah Omar must get an honourable exit out of their positions.

I am presenting a face-saving peace plan, which would give an honourable exit to both. This should come through UN Security Council resolution. While averting a prolonged war these resolutions can create the framework for lasting peace in the region:

(i) Cessation of War Resolution

The UNSC, seized of the grave threat to world peace from the war in Afghanistan, directs:

- that the international coalition led by the US put an end to all forms of military action against Afghanistan,

- that the Taliban regime nominate any country of its choice to examine the evidence against Osama bin Laden and his alleged accomplices, which shall be provided by the US government; provided that the country so nominated shall be acceptable to the US; and that country present its findings to the UNSC.

- that if the allegations are upheld on the basis of legal determination of the evidence, that country will be handed over bin Laden and his alleged accomplices for trial according to its laws and in accordance with internationally recognised process of law;

- that the verdict of the court of that country shall be respected by all parties to the dispute, and executed by that state.

(ii) Ceasefire Resolution:

Mindful of the dangers of a prolonged civil war in Afghanistan, the UNSC directs:

- that both parties to the civil war withdraw their forces and war materials twelve and a half miles away from the positions they hold and create 25-mile long Demilitarised Zone, and that UN peace-keeping forces be raised from countries acceptable to both parties to maintain peace;

(This resolution should be passed under chapter 7 of the UN Charter and the UNSC will have the right to authorise appropriate action in the event of non-compliance.)
- that UN monitors are posted on all known exit-entry locations on all borders of Afghanistan to stop the supply of arms to the warring sides.

(iii) Resolution of National Reconciliation

Desirous of lasting peace and recognising that the Afghan people alone are the ultimate masters of their destiny, the UNSC offering its good offices, directs:

- that the convening of a Grand Afghan Loya Jirga representative of the ethnic, linguistic, sectarian, regional, tribal, religious, political diversity of Afghanistan is vital to the formation of a broadbased government;

- that the Jirga be asked to determine the constitutional, social, political, administrative, religious, defence, and internal security structures of the country; and determine ways and means of national reconciliation, reconstruction and repatriation of Afghan refugees in peace and honour;

- that to convene the Jirga, the UNSC nominate an Afghan Council of Elders composed of ex-King Zahir Shah, as its convenor, Pir Syed Ahmad Gaylani, Pir Nabi Mohammadi, and ex-President Sibghatullah Mujaddidi as members, which will put up to the UNSC for approval within two weeks, proposals about the venue, time, composition and agenda of the Jirga.

- that the Jirga determining its own rules and procedures will take its own decisions freely and without any external influence or pressure of any kind, and that its decisions shall be deemed to represent the will of the Afghan people as a whole, and shall acquire legal sanction, and therefore all other entities in this regard in Afghanistan shall cease to have any legal effect.

(iv) Resolution of Peace and Reconstruction

The UNSC, desirous of lasting peace, resolves that national reconstruction and reconciliation are vital to end the suffering of the Afghan people as also the best way to prevent war and terrorism; and therefore considers the following measures necessary;

- that the comity of nations shall recognise through a UN General Assembly Resolution, the status of Afghanistan as a Permanently Neutral State;

- that the UN shall float an Afghanistan Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Fund to which all states shall be required to make financial contributions commensurate with their economic capacity, to be operated under the supervision and sanction of the SC and/or any other institutions it deems necessary;

- that the UN shall institute an Afghanistan Refugee Repatriation and Resettlement Fund for the purpose of effecting repatriation and settlement of Afghan refugees back to their homes in peace and honour,

- that the UN shall assist Afghanistan to rebuild its shattered social and administrative infrastructure;

- that the UN shall create a special Afghan Children's and Mother's Fund to restore the health of Afghan families and protect them from malnutrition, hunger and disease;

- that the UN shall launch a massive 5-year landmine clearance and removal programme that will rid Afghanistan of landmines.

I believe the above peace proposal can put an end to war and lead to the formation of a broadbased government of national reconciliation in Afghanistan. It will be good for Afghanistan and good for America. Mullah Omar can save his position and participate in the peace-process. President Bush can save himself the odium of war, while satisfying America on terrorism. He can start to win the hearts and minds of the world of Islam. I think President Musharraf despite domestic pressure of the Islamist parties, can and will need to play a key role in this process. These parties will need to understand that by pressuring Musharraf, they might damage the vital interests of Pakistan.

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