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Without Regional Consensus Breakthroughs in Peace Take Time: Ghani
President Ashraf Ghani said on Friday that breakthroughs on the Afghan peace will take time without a regional consensus and addressing the Taliban’s interdependencies with their supporters.
Addressing the 19th summit of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, Ghani said that although the Afghan war is multi-dimensional, “reaching a peace agreement with the Taliban is a key component for the reduction of violence.”
“We consider the US commitment to a political solution to be credible & are coordinating to build the necessary international consensus on peace. But without a regional consensus on peace and addressing Taliban’s interdependencies with their supporters, breakthroughs will take time,” he stressed.
President Ghani proposed four suggestions of the Afghan peace:
- To overcome the risk of fragmented approaches to peace, a regional and international coalition for peace should be formed to create a coherent framework for dialogue and negotiation.
- As international experience demonstrates that neighbors of countries in conflict are the greatest economic beneficiaries of peace, we propose the formation of a regional task force to develop bankable programs and projects for regional connectivity and poverty reduction.
- Given the clear and present threat of narcotics to our children, we propose that the issue of narcotics as a driver of conflict and criminality be comprehensively addressed within the peace-making and peace-building framework.
- Terrorist networks are determined to rob us of a secure future. Agreeing to a regional framework is, therefore, in all of our vital interests.
Meanwhile, president Ghani stressed on holding the presidential election on September 28.
“To realize this vision, we are holding presidential elections on September 28, focusing on peace, implementing a program of self-reliance, investing in regional connectivity and renewing our international and regional partnerships,” he said.
“As a free, fair, inclusive and transparent election is the test of a constitutional order, we invite international observers to monitor the process,” Ghani stressed.
Bishkek hosts the SCO summit for two days, where the organization’s leaders address on a number of regional and international issues including economic cooperation, security developments in Afghanistan and the Afghan peace process.
Founded in 2001, the SCO is a China-led political, economic and security bloc comprising eight members — China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India, and Pakistan.
The OSC counts Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran, and Mongolia as four observer states of the organization.
Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has emphasized the continuation of humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, stating that the ongoing provision of such aid plays an important role in ensuring regional security.
Speaking at the international conference “Peace and Trust” in Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan, Tokayev described addressing complex humanitarian challenges and the reconstruction of Afghanistan as a necessity.
“To ensure regional security, we consider it essential to continue providing assistance to Afghanistan, including by strengthening international efforts to address complex humanitarian issues and the reconstruction of this country. Kazakhstan remains committed to supporting the people of Afghanistan through humanitarian aid, educational projects, trade development, and food security initiatives,” he said.
Meanwhile, experts believe that sustainable improvement of the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan requires broad cooperation from the international community and support for the country’s economic development.
“Investment can be defined as one of the fundamental drivers of the economic cycle, and whenever Afghan traders do not take their money out of the country and instead invest domestically, it naturally leads to greater growth and dynamism in Afghanistan’s economy,” said Abdul Zahoor Modabber, an economic analyst.
As the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan continues, reports by international relief organizations indicate that millions of citizens of the country are in urgent need of food, health, and livelihood assistance.
The reduction in funding for aid organizations, the impacts of climate change, and the return of migrants have increased concerns about a further deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the country.
The Islamic Emirate has announced that it will not participate in the upcoming meeting of special envoys of regional countries on Afghanistan, scheduled to be held in Tehran, despite having received an invitation.
In a statement, Zia Ahmad Takal, Head of Information and Public Relations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the Islamic Emirate has maintained continuous and active engagement with all regional countries through various organizations, regional formats, and bilateral mechanisms, achieving notable progress in promoting mutual understanding and regional cooperation.
The statement added that Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs believes regional cooperation should be advanced by strengthening existing mechanisms and formats within the region.
Tehran is set to host the meeting next week, with special envoys from Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, China, and Russia expected to attend.
Khalifa Sirajuddin Haqqani, Minister of Interior of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, said during a visit to Khost province on Friday that any government which rules through fear cannot be considered a true government.
“A government is one that is loved by its people, one that serves them with respect and compassion, and from whose behavior people learn ethics and sincerity,” he said.
Haqqani also stressed that Afghans who opposed the Islamic Emirate in the past should be tolerated and treated in a way that helps eliminate hostility and animosity, paving the way for national cohesion.
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