An Eight member Pakistani delegation comprising members of civil society and media arrived in Kabul on Tuesday December 1st, for the second round of meetings as part of a series of seven Track 1.5/II meetings between Afghan and Pakistani civil society and regional security working groups.
This is British funded initiative organized by the Center of Research and Security Studies (CRSS) in partnership with Duran Research & Analysis, who have launched a major Afghanistan-Pakistan Track 1.5/II project Beyond Boundaries, as part of their efforts to help connect civil society stakeholders of both countries, relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Beyond Boundaries comprises two working groups, the Regional Security Group, and Regional Civil Society Group, aimed at facilitating and promoting people-to-people contacts.
The working groups on Regional Security and Regional Civil Society will address varied themes that are important in the peace process between Afghanistan and Pakistan. It is also meant to build upon existing people to people relations and increase future people-to-people contact.
The key objectives of the initiative are: expanding the peace constituency through friendship groups in both countries; and improving support for better Afghanistan-Pakistan relationship through dialogue among the influential stakeholders and informing policy makers through consensus recommendations.
The second in a series of seven meetings, the Regional Civil Society Group meeting was inaugurated today December 2nd in Kabul. The arrival of the Pakistani Civil Society and Media delegation marks the resumption of dialogue between non-governmental and political stakeholders from the two countries to the backdrop of a politically difficult and challenging environment.
These talks are taking place at a time of increased tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan for most of this year. Afghan and Pakistani government officials met during the Af-Pak Joint Economic Commission meetings last week in Islamabad. President Ghani met Prime Minister Nawaz two days ago in Paris and it seems that grounds are prepared for the up coming Ministerial Heart of Asia Conference next week in Islamabad.
The inaugural session was attended by Ambassadors of United Kingdom HE Karen Pierce, Ambassador of Pakistan HE Sayed Abrar Hussain, Ambassador of the Russian Federation Russian Federation H.E. Alexander Mantytskiy, Ambassador of Turkey HE Ali Seyit Akin, Ambassador for His Highness the Agha Khan HE Nurjehan Mawani, Deputy Chief of Mission of India HE Viraj Singh, Chief Executive of Afghanistan National Journalists Union Mr. Fahim Dashty, Managing Partner of Kakar Advocates, Afghan and Pakistan delegates, members of civil society and media in Afghanistan.
Mr. Fahim Dashty chairing the inaugural panel mentioned that he is realistic but also hopeful about the prospects of though relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan have been through difficult times, and our people, based on what they have experienced have doubts, but it looks like that a new chapter in Afghanistan-Pakistan relations is soon to be opened. He further added that “we have to shake hands and take practical steps towards normalizing relations between the two countries.”
Pakistan Ambassador to Afghanistan HE Sayed Abrar Hussain welcomed the initiative and underlined the role of civil society of both sides in bringing countries together. He said, “Journalists and writers, no matter in what language, teach us love, tell positive stories and bring people together. So we pin our hopes on writers, intellectuals and journalists. As important that this role is, it also brings the responsibility of providing platform for positive news.” He expressed delight in the seeming confirmation of President Ashraf Ghani’s participation in the Heart of Asia Conference on December 9 in Islamabad.
United Kingdom Ambassador HE Karen Pierce welcomed the initiative and asked if she could speak as an “honorary Afghan” to deliver her message, which is that “we are on the brink of a breakthrough that could lead to a real peace process.” She took note of earlier talks that did not deliver results, but said that “there are real possibilities, signals are coming from the Taliban, Pakistan, regional countries, US, Germany and France” and underlined the intent to follow up and build on these signals because conflict has gone for far too long and people have suffered far too much.
Mr. Naseer Memon, Director of Pakistan’s largest NGO Strengthening Participatory Organization (SPO) spoke on behalf of the Pakistani delegation and appreciated the opportunity to get together and talk with Afghan delegates. Commenting on his nice experience of stay in Kabul in the past 24 hours, he said, “I don’t feel a stranger here, the weather is great and the good news is that President Ghani and Prime Minister Nawaz met in Paris and we will be hosting President Ghani in Islamabad next week.” He further added that “we shouldn’t remain hostage to security issues because the people of Afghanistan and Pakistan share not just a history, but also destiny.”
Ambassador for HH Agha Khan HE Nurjehan Mawani spoke on behalf of the Agha Khan Development Network, which works in both Afghanistan and Pakistan. She welcomed the initiative and encouraged the delegates to have genuine conversations. Building on AKDN’s experience in Afghanistan and Pakistan she said that “what we have found in both countries is that mothers and fathers have the same hopes, dreams and aspirations for their children. This is what connects the people of both countries and this is what marks the greatest area of concern for both sides and that is why civil society organizations should focus on this area.”
The last panelist was Mr. Kawun Kakar, who thanked the organizers for the initiative, welcomed the delegates by saying, “I hope that Pakistani delegates will feel at home here as you made millions of Afghans feel at home in Pakistan; I am one of the Afghans who lived in Pakistan for several years.” Mr. Kakar further added that despite the common heritage, history, language, ethnicity and culture, there are contradictions that break the two countries apart. He emphasized on the need to build a bridge between millions of Afghans and Pakistanis who want peace and a stable life on one hand and the increasing political tensions on the other.
These round of talks comprise of a two days session on narratives and economic cooperation.