Afghanistan uncurtains all-inclusive peace plan at Kabul process meeting
The government of Afghanistan has presented the comprehensive program of peaceful reconciliation at the Kabul Process International Conference, hosted Wednesday in Afghan capital.
Representatives of 26 countries and two international organizations such as Australia, Azerbaijan, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Iran, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Korea, Norway, Pakistan, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sweden (Nordic Plus), Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan, United Arab Emirates, United States, EU, NATO and UN accepted the Afghanistan’s invitation to attend the gathering.
Welcoming the audience, President Ashraf Ghani outlined in brief the major steps, elaborated by Government of National Unity in consensus with public at large, towards peaceful inter-afghan settlement.
Recalling that once Afghanistan was a secure country, via which tourist flows travelled in full safety environment to other Asian countries, the head of Afghan state added that “memory of peace is what drives our current vision of peace and security”. He expressed confidence that Afghanistan will retake its place as an Asian roundabout.
In this context, Ashraf Ghani praised the Turkmenistan and other friendly Central Asian nations, which choose the path of transformations, rather than isolation, and extend the hands of cooperation to Afghanistan.
Having called the recent launch of Afghan segment of TAPI project as “great regional success”, president voiced the hope that the realization of new regional projects would transform Afghanistan’s location, considered as a challenge, into a golden opportunity.
After Ghani’s opening remarks, the program of on peace and reconciliation, security cooperation and counter-terrorism under the title of Offering Peace: Framing the Kabul Conference was presented.
As it was stated, this document is an outcome of country-wide consultations and consensus between the government, the High Peace Council (HPC), representatives of religious circles, all social groups - community leaders, businessmen, farmers, political parties, teachers, students, workers.
The document stresses the acute need to put a stop to conflicts through a political process with the Taliban. In this regard, peace agreement concluded last year between government and Hizb-e-Islami was named as a “successful example of how peace-making is possible”.
The HPC jointly with professional government support team will nominate a negotiation group. The preferable venues for peace talks are Kabul, Islamic country not involved in the conflict, a UN facility, or a third party country.
The plan identifies several spheres, where the efforts can be put in motion, ultimately, resulting in sustainable peace. In particular, the political process implies the ceasefire and inclusive open confidence-building dialogue. The legislation and state reorganization proposes constitutional review, enabling laws, balanced spatial development, reintegration of refugees and internally displaced populations.
According to program, in economic and social sphere, the path towards peace lays through equitable access to land and public assets, national job creation programs.
The document enumerates the areas, where the assistance of international community is required. These are international diplomatic support for the peace offer, aligning of regional initiatives with Kabul Process, as well as backing for the reforming strategy, transit, trade, and investment to economy of Afghanistan, and the upcoming 2018 parliamentary and 2019 presidential elections.
The detailed peace plan, disclosed by government of Afghanistan, has been supported by all Kabul process meeting participants. By signing the meeting’s final declaration, they reaffirmed commitment to the necessary fight against terrorism in order to bring lasting peace, security, stability, and prosperity to Afghanistan by signing the declaration.
Kabul process, launched in June last year is comprehensive an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned inclusive peace process, aimed at gaining support and the strongest commitment of regional partners and key stakeholders for Afghan vision for peace.
