There is no reason for us to be unduly optimistic about the forthcoming conference in the Kazakhstani capital, Astana, aimed at working out a comprehensive ceasefire deal in Syria. The three preceding rounds of talks in Geneva failed miserably, leaving no tangible results to pick up at the Astana conference. The political or military situation has remained unchanged, offering little room for optimism at next week's talks. Russia and Turkey will host the conference, to which the Syrian regime and the opposition have been invited. With numerous violations of the partial ceasefire agreement, one wouldn't be surprised if the opposition fails to turn up. With the prevailing political and military turmoil in the country, how can one expect the Astana conference to take the country any closer to peace? A difficult question to answer, but what is clear is that Russia, the principal sponsor of the conference, is a staunch supporter of the regime. It has militarily intervened in the Aleppo battle, swinging the fight in favor of the regime. How can one expect Russia to ever remain neutral in the bid for peace? There are numerous such questions, with few answers. The long-drawn Syrian crisis is about to enter its seventh year. More than 500,000 Syrians have lost their lives, and millions have been displaced, leading to a crisis described by the UN as the biggest in the world since World War II. The world waits and watches as to how Russia will maneuver through the conference. The Syrians have seen many such conferences and may soon be indifferent to them as "just another one." Much depends on how Moscow plays the game and brings some credibility to the conference and its drive to peace. Till then, Syria continues to burn.
