THE bombings near the revered Syeda Zainab shrine outside Damascus on Sunday, in which at least 70 people have reportedly been killed, are a disturbing provocation clearly designed to sabotage the nascent peace talks under way in Geneva between the Syrian government and opposition, and widen sectarian fissures.

While the shrine itself was not damaged, the area around it was devastated. The iconic structure has been targeted before.

The militant Islamic State group has claimed the attack; considering that the mosque serves as the locus for Hezbollah and other Shia militias active in Syria, as well as pilgrims, it is one of the most sensitive locations in the Syrian theatre.

Also read:Bomb attacks near Hazrat Zainab's shrine in Syria kill 50, wound 110

The threat of communal violence that targeting such a significant religious structure can unleash should not be underestimated. For example, the 2006 bombing of the Al Askari mosque in Samarra triggered a horrific wave of sectarian violence that ripped Iraqi society apart, and the repercussions of which are still being felt.

The Syrian quagmire has already acquired an ugly sectarian colour. Attacks such as these will only fuel the fires of communal violence now burning in many parts of the Middle East. That is why it is essential that the UN-sponsored peace talks being held in Geneva make progress.

Of course, the Syrian conflict is an incredibly complex one, with internal and external actors pursuing varying agendas. However, unless the negotiation teams of both the Syrian government and opposition display the intention to move the peace process forward and make compromises, little can be expected from the talks. One key issue is that the opposition seems divided and unsure of what to do.

The Saudi-backed Higher Negotiating Committee only joined the talks at the last minute while for obvious reasons, the militant opposition, consisting of IS, Al Nusra and others of their ilk, are not at the table. Expectedly, both the regime and the opposition have taken maximalist positions; these must be loosened for there to be progress.

It would help matters immensely if both sides announced an immediate ceasefire, which would bring relief to the hapless Syrian population.

However, as both sides argue over the details of how to permanently end the conflict and establish a government acceptable to all sides, they must agree on one point: there must be a united front against extremist groups — though this is difficult as some of the ‘moderate’ rebels have fought alongside the extremist fighters.

The UN ‘road map’ for peace as envisaged in a recent Security Council resolution can only be implemented if Syria’s warring factions — as well as regional and international players — agree to make it work. Saudi Arabia, Iran and Turkey have a significant role in making this happen. Establishing peace in Syria is incredibly difficult, but not impossible if the principal domestic and foreign players choose to work towards it.

Published in Dawn, February 2nd, 2016