ASIA/AFGHANISTAN - Peace and reconciliation: the expectations of the Afghan civil society

Wednesday, 29 January 2014

Kabul (Agenzia Fides) - The Afghan civil society firmly believes that the "military solution" is ineffective and that it is essential to pursue the path of political dialogue, implementing a plan of "national reconciliation" and a contextual peace process. This is what emerges after five months of work in seven Afghan provinces (Balkh, Bamiyan, Farah, Faryab, Herat , Kabul, Nangarhar), promoted by the network of "Afghan" international NGOs and co-financed by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Report, published on the eve of the disengagement of NATO troops from the country and sent to Fides Agency, discusses the causes of conflict and the reasons for the anti-government mobilization; the process of peace and reconciliation with the Taliban; the relationship between peace and justice; expectations for the post-2014.
"Peace and Justice" are perceived by society as complementary expectations. For the majority of those interviewed - said the text - injustice is one of the factors that most contributes to the conflict. Ignoring the demands of justice for past and present crimes weakens a possible peace agreement, increases the reasons of insecurity, promotes violence, notice the Afghan citizens.
Few believe in the possibility of finding a peace agreement with the Taliban and other anti-government groups before the end of 2014. Among the obstacles mentioned, there is the inadequacy of the High Peace Council, the body established by President Karzai in 2010 to negotiate with the Taliban, as a mediator between the actors in conflict.
Those interviewed do not exclude the possibility that the Taliban could obtain "positions of power in a future government", if that would help to end the conflict. On one condition: that the political and institutional architecture created in 2001 and the legislative and social achievements of recent years are not affected. The Report notes that the Afghan civil society calls for a dual approach to the peace process, distinguishing between "peace policy" and "social peace". The political and diplomatic process that aims in the short term the interruption of the conflict, must go hand in hand with a social process that aims at the long-term rebuilding of relationships and trust among local communities. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 29/01/2014)


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