KABUL (Agencies): President Ashraf Ghani says that peace depends on the people of Afghanistan, amid numerous criticisms by his political opposition who accuse him of sabotaging the ongoing peace efforts to prolong his power. President Ghani who was speaking to mark 27th anniversary of the Mujahideen victory in Kabul, called the jihad as a saga and miracle.
He said that jihad’s victory was not gained easily, but it cost 220 billion dollars, 1.5 million people killed and millions of others migrated. Ghani added that the jihad belongs to the people of Afghanistan and it should be introduced to the next generations. “We need to take lessons from our past and from other nations’ experiences and talk for mutual understandings,” the president said. He emphasized that the voice of every Afghan should be heard that what was the price of war? “Peace cannot be gained in one day, the government has provided peace opportunity.”
He said that the government is Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and no political thought outside the Islamic Republic was acceptable in the Afghans’ political culture. Vice President, Sarwar Danesh, chief executive Abdullah Abdullah, jihadi leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyra and a number of other participants spoke on the importance of jihad and peace. Abdullah said victory of the Afghan people’s jihad is the victory of the right against falsehood. Regarding peace process, he said that if there is real opportunity for peace, the Afghan people will surely welcome it unitedly and comprehensively.
“It is difficult to gain peace in our country with 41 years of war, but we have a framework, principles and united opinion to bring peace. The government’s intention over the peace consultative Loya Jirga should not be doubted as it will lead the government for its next steps over peace,” Danesh said.
Meanwhile, President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani introduced former Mujahideen leader Abdul Rab Rasool Sayyaf as head of consultative peace Jirga. The consultative peace Jirga (Grand Assembly) kicked off earlier today with the organizers of the Jirga saying around 3,200 representatives from across the country have participated in the gathering to discuss the future of peace process.
However, most of the prominent political leaders and figures have boycotted the peace Jirga. In the meantime, President Ghani said the Jirga has been convened to specify the framework for peace and reconciliation with Taliban. President Ghani further added that the participants of the Jirga will define peace process and discuss ways to achieve peace, emphasizing that the peace process should be Afghan-led.
Pointing towards Fatwa (ruling) of the Islamic scholars of Afghanistan and other Islamic nations, President Ghani emphasized that the ongoing war in the country has no religious basis. President Ghani also urged the participants of the Jirga to openly speak regarding peace process as he promised that the government will consider the views of Jirga participants in its policies.
