Afghan Studies Center (ASC) and the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), on September 05, 2018, hosted a “Pak-Afghan Youth Alumni Get Together, Musical Evening & Dinner” for its alumni at Hillview Hotel, Islamabad. The event was attended by over a hundred young Afghans and Pakistanis from tribal districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Peshawar, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Kohat, Hangu as well as Afghans from Jalalabad, Kunduz, Kabul, Badakhshan, and other regions, though currently residing in Pakistan. Additionally, CRSS’ Pak-Afghan Track 1.5/II dialogue Beyond Boundaries‘ visiting Afghan delegation that comprised members of Afghan Parliament, Advisors and former Ministers also graced the evening with their presence.
The Afghan delegation included Mozammil Shinwari; Advisor to the Office of Afghan Chief Executive Officer on Trade, Khalid Pashtoon; Member of Parliament, Jarullah Mansoori; former Minister of Rural Rehabilitation and Development, Sayed Qutbuddin Roydar; former Deputy Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, Saleem Khan Kunduzi; former Governor of Nangarhar, Faridoon Sikander; Representative to Afghan Chief Executive, Mohammad Younas Momand; Vice President Pakistan Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industries (PAJCCI) and Anees Ur Rahman Shinwari; Senior Journalist from National TV of Afghanistan. Former Ambassadors Mian Sanaullah and Ms. Fouzia Mian Sanaullah represented Pakistan’s delegation. Rahimullah Qatra – the Afghan Political Councilor, Afghan Embassy, Islamabad, was the Chief Guest.
In the opening, Aized Ali, CRSS Project Director, warmly welcomed the distinguished guests and thanked the Chief Guest and Pak-Afghan dignitaries for taking out the time to interact with the youth from both countries. He apprised the audience that the primary objective of the ASC is to encourage peaceful co-existence based on universal values of neighborhood. By providing a platform for the youth of the two countries to interact, exchange ideas and engage in joint research ventures, the center aspires for peace through an informed discourse between the two peoples. The initiative is principally focused on inculcating critical thinking and helping the youth become messengers of peace and cooperation beyond boundaries.
The Chief Guest Rahimullah Qatra thanked CRSS and Afghan Studies Center and stated that people to people contact holds the key in bilateral relations. He also mentioned that civil society on both sides is playing a critical role in bringing the two nations together. Moreover, he extended his full support for any kind of effort, either from Afghanistan or Pakistan, especially the one from the youth that can bring the people together and carve out a better future.
Khalid Pashtoon, while addressing the youth stated that youth is the future; they have to take the driving seat to ascertain the direction of their respective countries/societies. Pakistan and Afghanistan are very lucky in this regard, as youth formulate the significant portion of the population. He also thanked Pakistan for showing the unabated hospitality towards Afghans and also for providing them educational opportunities. He encouraged young Afghans to educate themselves and return to their homeland and serve the nation to help rebuild it.
Mian Sanaullah told the audience about his profound memories of cordiality, understanding and friendship with Afghanistan which has seen a continuous decline over years. Now, as the two countries are again having positive engagements with each other, people across the border are hoping for peace and development.
Afterwards, few Afghan and Pakistani participants, as youth ambassadors, conveyed their messages to the audience. They highlighted the positive role that youth can play to build peace and social cohesion in the region. They foregrounded their importance as a large and dynamic segment of population in both the countries, with genuine stakes in stability and prosperity. They especially stressed on the crucial need for providing them with platforms, such as Afghan Studies Center (ASC), for voicing their grievances and participating in the decision-making process to ensure that future development policies do not exclude the potentially positive role that young people can play in ensuring peace and security.
The crux of these messages was that the road ahead for youth in Pakistan and Afghanistan is a difficult one. Despite this, these young people were not without hope. The participants also expressed their appreciation for the emphasis Afghan Studies Center (ASC) has placed on youth thus far and hoped that the Center would take up and sincerely pursue the voices of youth at appropriate platforms and authorities.
The nightfall continued with quite a few enthralling musical performances in Pashto, Urdu and Darri by ‘Helaa-the Band’ from School of Economics (SOE), Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU), Islamabad. Helaa – a Pashto term, would translate into “hope”. The name itself encapsulates the very message of the evening.
The event carried on the message of peace and harmony between the youth from both countries present, who towards the closing in high spirits performed Attan (the Pashtoon cultural/victory dance), inspired by the hope for a positive future.