Professor Dr. Ashot Sarkisian – Chairman, International Committee of Humanitarian Cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and President, Russian Medical Association – has penned open letters to key stakeholders in Afghanistan demanding an instant resolution to the country’s ongoing conflict. In his letters – addressed to President Ashraf Ghani, Taliban Commander Mawlawi Akhhunzada, US Secretary of Defense General James Mattis, and leader of the Hezb-e Islami Gulbuddin Hekmatyar – Dr. Sarkisian believes that it is time to end the senseless and hopeless war in Afghanistan.

Dr. Sarkisian also emphasizes on the urgent need for combatting growing extremism in the Afghan society through investments in education, healthcare, culture and science While emphasizing on the need for dialogue, Dr. Sakisian writes that ‘the people of Afghanistan can and should build their future through a broad national dialogue on peace. Turning Afghanistan into a stable and peaceful nation where no threats come from and which is able to secure decent life for its people, should be a strategic goal for the entire international community. There is no alternative to a peaceful settlement in Afghanistan’. The letters finally argue on how ‘the people of Afghanistan, tired of the endless war, having discarded ethnic and tribal differences, will support the joint actions and the beginning of active negotiation process.

The letters, in full, can be found below:

1. Letter to Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Taliban Leader Mawlawi Haibatullah Akhunzada

2. Letter to General James Mattis

3.  Letter to Gulbuddin Hekmatyar