Pak-Afghan Religious Scholars Conference May 16 & 17, 2022- Islamabad

Context

On August 15, 2021, the Taliban took over Afghanistan after Ashraf Ghani along with his senior cabinet members left the country. In the last eight months of their rule, the Taliban leaders have been trying hard to convince the international community that they are capable of running the affairs of the state smoothly but none of the countries have so far recognized them. One of the major reasons for the non-recognition of the Taliban government by the international community is due to the fact that contrary to their promises in the Doha agreement as well their several announcements to ensure equal rights to all (including women’s rights to education and work) and inclusion (ethnic & religious minorities), they have banned girls’ education from grade 6-12, and have made Hijab compulsory for women not only in public places but also in their media appearances (TV in particular). The delay and apparent reluctance of the Taliban in normalizing girls’ education, women’s right to work, and non-inclusion of the ethnic minorities on the one hand has caused displeasure at home besides impeding recognition by the international community.

In the past, under the Beyond Boundaries initiative, the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) has proactively engaged with Afghan stakeholders including the government, media, trade, and civil society. However, under the current political situation in Afghanistan, CRSS deemed it necessary to convene a meeting of the Afghan and Pakistani religious scholars to bring together religious leaders from both sides to discuss matters of mutual concern and also gauge the possibility of whether the Pakistani ulema can use their influence over the Taliban vis-à-vis their policies on girls education, ensuring regional peace and security, women’s right to work and inclusive government formation since many in the current interim government are students of the madrasas/seminaries in Pakistan. It is therefore believed that the heads of the madrasas that the Taliban leaders graduated from yield some influence over the Taliban leadership.

Event Summery

In this regard, CRSS hosted a Pak-Afghan Religious Scholars Conference on May 16, 17, 2022. Representatives of the leading madrasas including Jamai Haqania, Jamah Banoria, Rehmatul-lil-Alameen Authority, Council for Islamic Ideology, and several other distinguished institutions participated in the two-day conference.

The conference revolved around the following themes: Islamic system of governance in Afghanistan under the Taliban- ongoing thinking on the system of governance and legitimacy, peace, and stability in the region, the rights of women and minorities; Pak-Afghan relations – prospects and challenges.

Based on the discussions held over two days, it was extrapolated that the religious scholars on both sides believe in an Islamic system of governance that is inclusive and all-encompassing. The

participants agreed on the idea of the Pakistani ulema issuing a joint statement (fatwa) urging the Taliban government to normalize girls’ education and uphold women’s rights under Islamic Shariah law. The participants’ recommendations and responses to agenda questions also depicted that religious scholars on both sides believe in an Islamic system in Afghanistan that prioritizes the welfare of all citizens, including the women, and ethnic and religious minorities.

The discussion also busted certain myths and stereotypes on the question of limited civil liberties in Islamic Shariah law. The participants underscored that no matter what sect Muslims belong to and what kind of Islamic law exists in a Muslim country, Islam encourages the pursuit of knowledge by both men and women and in women’s equal representation in public spheres – given that they adhere to gender-specific guidelines the religion has set for them, but, in no way, Islam preaches about curtailing women’s freedom.

The Afghan religious scholars opined that Pakistan could play a better and more significant role in advising the Taliban to develop a moderate system that represents all Afghans and is acceptable to the international community. The scholars and heads of Pakistan’s eminent religious schools are revered by the Taliban as most of the Taliban were educated at the religious seminaries in Pakistan. There is promising speculation that if these individuals form an advisory delegation with the relevant government representatives from Pakistan and initiate talks with the Taliban, some positive developments could occur vis-à-vis the law-and-order situation and women’s rights in Afghanistan.

The Ulema from both countries specifically talked about the current security situation in Afghanistan and its impact on Pakistan. They were of the view that terrorism on both sides should be dealt with zero tolerance. They also stressed the need for intel-sharing between security agencies to fight ISIS, TTP, and other common enemies of both countries.  Ulema from both sides assured their full support in playing their role in sensitizing the local communities on deradicalization and propagating the message of peace and harmony.

Emphasizing the need for further bilateral cooperation, the scholars suggested that Pakistan should advocate for the current regime’s recognition by maintaining diplomatic relations with IEA and ensuring further assistance in health, education, and economic matters.

JOINT RECOMMENDATIONS:

Participants of the conference agreed upon the following recommendations.

  1. Basic Humanitarian Support and Girls’ Education
  • Pakistani ulema and eminent religious schools should issue a joint fatwa urging the Taliban to prioritize and normalize girls’ education in Afghanistan under an Islamic system of governance. A group of Pakistani religious experts and government officials should travel to Afghanistan in an advisory delegation, but they should not wait for the Taliban’s invitation. Hence, both sides can have a rational and transparent discussion.
  • Pakistan Ulema should proactively urge the Taliban to normalize girls’ education. The Afghan government can increase the number of female teachers for female students.
  • Allah says in Quran: Fulfill your promises. Being true followers of Islam, the Taliban should fulfill the promise of a better and prosperous Afghanistan they made to the people when they formed the government. They owe it to the Afghan people
  1. Inclusive Governance
  • Taliban should form an all-inclusive Islamic system of governance that protects all the religious and ethnic minorities and upholds human rights
  • The government of Afghanistan should also have an institution like the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII)
  • Taliban need to bring reforms in governance and law: constitution-making is an important task in the backlog
  • Top-priority matters for the Afghan government should be: i) economic crisis, ii) girls’ education
  • If elections cannot be held on time, the Taliban should at least call a Jirga to discuss urgent matters and develop solutions.
  1. Peace and Stability
  • Intel sharing between security agencies to fight ISIS, TTP, and other common enemies
  • Terrorism on both sides should be tackled with a “zero-tolerance” approach
  • Tribal leaders on both sides of the border should be consulted on important security matters.
  1. Bilateral Coordination and Cooperation
  • More interactions and exchange of ideas between Ulema from both sides to identify issues and devise strategies to fight the mutual enemies.
  • The Pakistan government should arrange free medical camps to help the patients from Afghanistan as primary and short-term medical assistance; visas should be made more specific and issued as per the urgency of the need, keeping patients as a priority.
  • Pakistan should play the role of an elder brother while keeping the communication channels open with the Taliban, paving way for their recognition by maintaining diplomatic relations with IEA and ensuring further assistance in health, education, and economic matters.
  • Pakistan should arrange exposure visits for Afghan Ulema to interact with their counterparts to seek guidance and support on basic humanitarian law and the Islamic system of governance.

THE WAY FORWARD FOR FUTURE ENGAGEMENTS

  • The Pak-Afghan scholars suggested that a joint committee of Ulema must be devised to formulate and issue “Joint Fatwas” on matters of due importance. This committee could meet time and again to review the situation and act accordingly. Furthermore, they suggested that CRSS should initiate and lead the formation of the said committee drafting joint fatwas.
  • A committee of Ulema to be constituted in Pakistan by CRSS to discuss issues of mutual concerns- peace and security, safeguarding basic rights, bilateral cooperation- with the Afghan Ulema in Kabul.

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PAK-AFGHAN SCHOLARS’ CONFERENCE REPORT

On Day 1, May 16, 2022, the event kicked off with a general discussion on the Islamic system of governance, and the role of religious scholars in breeding social cohesion and national unity. CRSS Executive Director, Mr. Imtiaz Gul welcomed the participants and briefly explained the idea of having such conversations between prominent religious scholars of both countries. Chairman of the Council of Islamic Ideology, Dr. Qibla Ayaz opened the floor for the participants to present their views on what the Islamic Shariah law entails and if the current Taliban are different from the previous ones.

Yousuf Shah Haqqani (Head of Dar ul Uloom Haqqania, Akora Khattak) commented that ulema have an important role to play in the region’s policies. “Politicians and government officials come and go but the religious scholars are always there. We hold the community at large together”, he said. He also said that it is a very significant event in world history that students (Taliban) are leading the government in Afghanistan while they (the teachers) are here in Pakistan. He underscored that political turmoil and unrest in Afghanistan over the past 40 years have made it evident that no other system can work for Afghanistan except for an Islamic system given the tribal, ethnic, and religious mapping of the country.

The event’s moderator, Dr. Israr Madni, asked the participants what kind of constitution is needed in Afghanistan and how it will be Islamic as well as comprehensive, i.e., inclusive and addresses all core issues of Afghanistan. Habibullah Fozi, one of the Afghan participants, said that Afghanistan has seen a time when it was not a staunch theocracy but Islamic principles were the yardstick to run the affairs of the country. Giving the example of King Zahir Shah, he said that he was a proponent of Islam but women’s rights were upheld during his reign. Similarly, another participant, Khalikzad Haqqani, said that it is true the Afghans are currently unhappy with the Taliban regime because they have been delaying the fulfillment of the promises made to Afghans. However, their situation should be seen sympathetically, they should not be alienated as they are not self-sufficient in dealing with what they are currently facing, both in terms of resources and mental readiness. In such a scenario, Pakistan can sensitize them to come up with a moderate system that does not curtail civil liberties and education is made compulsory for all to have a prosperous and progressive Islamic society.

On the issue of women’s rights, Dr. Sher Ali from Afghanistan said that the Taliban have changed a lot now, but the issue of purdah is being dragged unnecessarily. He also said that under the previous system, women were allowed to pursue education and there was nothing ‘un-Islamic’ about their public demeanor. He further said that the Taliban will face backlash from the Afghans if they stick to parochialism. “Pakistan has a strong religious community and religious scholars are given due importance in all matters. Yet, we see that the women here have their rights and are free to pursue different academic and career paths. Why can’t the Pakistani ulema have a meaningful dialogue with the Taliban leadership to do the same for our sisters and daughters?”, he remarked.

Molana Shaukatullah Haqqani, Spokesperson for Dar ul Uloom Haqqania, said that there are a lot of myths about Islamic law. The new generation in Afghanistan grew up in a different Afghanistan, so they cannot change and accept a new system all of a sudden. The Taliban have to put forward their beliefs and aspirations to their people in a softer way.

The participants from both sides agreed that the Taliban are now a reality, but they should take practical measures so their people could accept them first. If they are accepted at home, the international community itself will recognize them and increase its engagement with them in various sectors.

On Day 2, May 17, 2022, the discussion revolved around the Pak-Afghan ties and expected role of Pakistan in the current Afghan situation, and the future roadmap (recommendations from both sides).

Moderator, Dr. Israr Madni stated that the recognition of the Taliban is their need, not of the international community. If they do the needful to get recognized internationally, it would benefit them and Afghanistan. Currently, the world is giving aid to Afghanistan on a humanitarian basis, but to engage on a deeper level, the Taliban will have to do more to be able to stabilize Afghanistan and have a sound diplomatic presence on the world map. “Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is a republic that has its challenges, but republics do not refrain from accepting their shortcomings and work toward resolving them”, he conceded.

Participants from both sides agreed on the formation of an advisory council from Pakistan’s side comprised of eminent religious scholars and government officials that are acceptable and respected by the Taliban. This advisory council can have meaningful and impact-focused discussions with the Taliban so they can come up with suitable and actionable measures to address issues of governance, economy, infrastructure, education, human rights, etc.

Dr. Qibla Ayaz also suggested the Afghan participants urge the Taliban to call a Jirga comprising of leaders from all major and minor ethnic and religious groups, in case they can not hold elections timely, to discuss urgent matters and avoid further dismay of the Afghan people and improve the country’s overall situation. He also said that as an “elder brother”, the engagement and initiative from Pakistan should be voluntary and it should not wait for the Taliban’s invitation.

The event’s last session focused on strategies for the future and recommendations for the Afghan and Pakistani governments to address the current crisis in Afghanistan and strengthen the bilateral ties.

Pakistan’s special envoy to Afghanistan, Ambassador Mohammad Sadeq delivered closing remarks at the conference. He said that is true that the Taliban are trying to address uphill challenges with scanty resources and a lack of institutions, but inclusively ameliorating them – considering different perspectives and opinions – would be much better for the future of Afghanistan. Pakistan will continue to extend its support to Afghanistan, especially for health cooperation. In this regard, Pakistan has already constructed three big hospitals in Afghanistan – receiving an overwhelming response; with efforts already being made to ensure at least the next 12 months of salaries and medicines needed to run them smoothly. He also said that Pakistan is also considering sending some NGOs to Afghanistan as part of our continued humanitarian assistance.