Embedded Intentions in Expressions: A Critical Discourse Analysis of the Doha Peace Agreement (DPA)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55737/trt/FL25.179Keywords:
Afghan Taliban, Unites States Exit, Establishment of Peace, Fairclough Model of CDA, Inclusive Government, Countering TerrorismAbstract
Doha Peace Agreement (DPA) was inked on 29 February 2021 to pave way for the United States (US) exit from Afghanistan after the war on terror for around twenty years and to secure guarantees from Afghan Taliban regarding not letting anyone or any group use Afghan soil for terrorism against the US and its allies. The US started withdrawing troops but Taliban advance towards Kabul ahead of the agreed time, forced President Ashraf Ghani to flee. Taliban took over Kabul on 15 August 2021 and once in total control did not initiate intra-Afghan dialogue and refused to form an inclusive government, violating its commitments. This study is aimed to explain the content of the DPA qualitatively using the Fairclough model of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) for failing its objectives. The findings of the study highlight that USA framed a specific discourse in the agreement apparently objectifying the establishment of peace in Afghanistan as its core aim and justifying its decision to withdraw from Afghanistan. However, USA failed to realize the importance of a strong guarantor and defined guarantees in the agreement to ensure that once the Taliban are back in power, must adhere to the terms of the agreement. The agreement also neglected the issues of an inclusive government, women’s rights, and freedom of speech. The study has extending consequences on the U.S. hegemonic discourse about countering terrorism strategies and conflict resolution as it tends to fail in the case of Afghanistan because of the way the discourse of DPA was drafted.
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