Regional Coordination in Conflict Resolution: The Role of Istanbul Process in Stabilizing Afghanistan

The prolonged Afghan conflict affects the whole region. It has led to growing extremism and terrorism, drug and arms trafficking, Afghanistan-Pakistan border disputes. Forceful response did not bring the desired result. Coalition troops moved under NATO command failed to restore peace in the country. Against this backdrop, increasing attention is paid to the regional approach to the Afghan conflict settlement. Enhanced cooperation and economic integration could help in peace-building process. The Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process (HoA-IP) was launched in 2011 to encourage the Afghan's neighboring countries to ensure security in the region. This mechanism was designed to play a significant role in strengthening interaction between the participating countries, coordinating joint efforts of Kabul and international community towards the regional stability in the "Heart of Asia". The purpose of this article is to assess the international political significance of the HoA-IP in the context of existing theoretical approaches to conflict resolution.

The author uses the Ripe Moments Theory proposed by William Zartman to examine the Afghan conflict, as well as the work of the HoA-IP. Interactions between the regional players, main achievements and weaknesses of the mechanism are discussed. It was stated that cooperation established within the framework of the Istanbul Process enabled the establishment of a platform for coordinating efforts of Afghanistan and its neighbors on security and socio-economic cooperation. The mechanism also contributed to the implementation of a number of significant infrastructure projects. The author concludes that the HoA-IP can be effective if all the engaged countries are ready for an open dialogue and for making a change in the recent status-quo.

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