Afghans in Europe want hurdles to peace process removed

BONN (PAN‘s future, have urged the summit participants to help remove hurdles hindering the ongoing peace process in the war-hit country.

Officials and representatives of 100 countries and international organisations are to participate in the meeting on December 5.

The meeting will discuss the security transition process, long-term cooperation of the international community with Afghanistan and the ongoing peace drive.

Afghans at a seminar under the title “Twenty First Century” called on the Bonn conference attendees to ensure practical steps at removing hurdles hampering the peace process in Afghanistan.

Hundreds of Afghan culturists attended the daylong seminar. Some participants said they attached no hope with the conference results.

A participant, Dr. Abdul Raziq, said decisions taken at the first Bonn conference could not be fully implemented and problems remained in Afghanistan.

The first Bonn conference was held soon after the Taliban regime was toppled in a US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001.

Another participant, Asadullah Hilali, said irresponsible airstrike that resulted in civilian casualties had rendered all Afghans hopeless. He said Afghans wanted security, a difficult task to be achieved.

“There are insiders in the government encouraging people to kill civilians, but the international community has so far been failed to protect civilians in the war,” he said.

Tariq Bazgar, coming from Norway, however, said the first Bonn conference was not about Afghanistan, but to expose the influence of neighbouring countries.

A resolution issued at the end of the seminar asked the international community not to repeat its past mistakes and end the influence of warlords in Afghanistan

It also insisted Afghan soldiers should be kept away from the influence of political parties after the withdrawal of foreigners in 2014.

“After the withdrawal of foreign troops, Afghanistan’s economy be put on a right direction to help the country stand on its own feet,” the resolution said, calling for the removal of parallel set ups and a mechanism to stop neighbours’ interference.

frm/ma