Speakers of a conference on Afghanistan declared the co-operation of six regional bordering countries of Afghanistan and the support of three giants' ie: Nato, America and Russia as imperative for long lasting peace in the country.
They said that neighbouring countries, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakistan, Kyrgystan and most importantly Iran and Pakistan must find out a regional solution of the Afghan problem to bring peace in Afghanistan while the big powers like Russia, USA and Nato must play role in stabilising the country and also act as a guarantor.
They said that the regional countries must not have the mindset to control Afghanistan and needs not to take it is a colony. They must bring this belief into practice that Afghanistan is a separate state which can have economic and bilateral relations with all the countries for its own national interest.
The Chief Guest of the second day was Dean Faculty of Social Sciences Professor Dr Sara Safdar, while Ahmadullah Navid, President of Regional Studies, Centre of Afghanistan was in chair. The chair while addressing the issues of Afghanistan from a within perspective said that after 9/11 the country has been facing severe hardships, but after the establishment of an elected government, the country has gone on the route to development.
Afghanistan now has a proper constitution and a parliament exists there, which is a symbol of democracy. However he added that issues of good governance, corruption and interference from regional and global powers have been a major impediment towards stability in Afghanistan.
Brigadier (R) Mehmood Shah said that United States and its people cannot tolerate to take casualties in war and this is the main area of vulnerability in them. That is why he said many belief that biggest contingent of US forces would not be in Afghanistan in the years ahead. He said that there are warlords in Afghanistan at several places that are working in the name of civil contractors, this he said needs to be ceased and stopped as a step to attain peace.
Director Area Study Centre, Professor Dr Sarfaraz Khan in his presentation described the need for representation of Pakhtuns in the decision making process as per their population which stands at more than half of the total population of Afghanistan. He said that political and economic well of the big powers to rebuild Afghanistan is necessary for its development.
Dr Sarfaraz said that reforms in FCR are very important to bring FATA in the decision making process of the Pakistan. He said that proper democratic electoral process must start in FATA and it would be better off having an elected governor by the people of FATA to look into their affairs. The two day conference was attended by scholars and policy makers among which Usmanov Aibek, Ambassador of Uzbekistan, Rustam Shah Mohmand, former Ambassador to Afghanistan, Hasheem Ashjazadeh, Acting Consul General of Iran, Dr Maqsudul Hasan Nuri, Dr Mohammad Anwar are worth mentioning.