The Geneva 2 peace conference on Syria has led to slow progress on humanitarian issues in the civil war-stricken country. Plans that could provide relief for civilians trapped in besieged areas are under discussion, while deep distrust prevails on both sides.

Prospects are bleak that the much-delayed talks will lead to a resolution on the main agenda topic – the formation of a transitional government and the administration of free and fair elections under a new constitution.

Both sides refuse to negotiate on whether President Bashar al-Assad should stay or go, with external actors also treating the issue as a zero-sum game. The weak political representation at the conference, which lacks high-ranking security chiefs and the participation of other major opposition groups, adds to the deadlock.

It is crucial that the representatives at the Geneva 2 talks grasp the opportunity to resolve the conflict

But it is too soon to speak of failure. The UN-backed conference, which marks the first time the opposition and the government have sat around the negotiating table, is the initial step in a lengthy process that could lead to the de-escalation of the conflict. Re-engagement with the regime, which had been exiled from the international community since 2011, could help build confidence and perhaps lead to a future compromise as relations improve.

In what has become a regional proxy battle where neither side is able to gain the upper hand, a political resolution is the only way forward. Pressure from regional and international backers is needed to stop the war escalating further.

It is crucial that the representatives at the Geneva 2 talks grasp the opportunity to resolve the conflict, so that the process does not turn into something resembling the Israel-Palestine impasse, where neither side is willing to push issues forward.