Islamic scholars summit will address Afghan crisis

 KABUL (Tolo News): A historic summit of the world’s Islamic dignitaries is expected to be held in the near future and is aimed at seeking a settlement to the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan, the leader of the Muslim World League, Muhammad bin Abdul Karim Issa, told Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Haneef Atmar.

“The conference will be arranged to bring together key figures from the Islamic world in order to find a fundamental solution to the Afghan crisis from a religious perspective,” he said. On a three-day official visit to Saudi Arabia, Atmar spoke with Sheikh Al-Issa and discussed ways to end the bloodshed and secure peace in the country, as well as the fight against extremism and terrorism.

According to a statement issued by the Afghan Foreign Ministry, Atmar spoke about the dimensions of the war in Afghanistan and outlined the activities and agendas of trans-national and trans-regional extremist and terrorist groups in the country and in the region. He also highlighted the horrific crimes committed in Afghanistan that not only contradict Islamic values and teachings, but are incompatible with any religion.

He said extremists from various countries and organizations have turned Afghanistan into a war zone to pursue certain goals, and that rescuing Afghanistan from the current war actually means saving the Islamic world and human society from the growing threat of violent extremism and global terrorism. “Through the peace process, we want the Taliban to separate from other foreign extremist groups in the region and return to a peaceful and political life in their country,” he said.

In line with this, he called for the cooperation of the Islamic world, the statement read. Sheikh Al-Issa in turn said that crime and terrorism have no place in Islam and that criminal and terrorist acts should not be attributed to Islam. “We consider it our responsibility to help end the war and ensure peace in Afghanistan,” he said.

Sheikh Al-Issa promised that in the near future, in accordance with his previous commitment, the Muslim World League will bring together influential thinkers, scholars and muftis of the Islamic world in a historic conference and seek a fundamental solution to the Afghan crisis from a religious perspective. He also said the outcome of the conference should be decisive and non-negotiable. He added that a solution will be found to follow up on the results and implement the decisions of the conference, and, to this end, the Taliban will be invited to attend.