Significant Dates 19-26 Sep: Peace and National Unity Week 19
Sep: National Gathering at Loya Jirga Building 20 Sep: One Year
Anniversary of the Death of Professor Rabbani 21 Sep: International
Day of Peace Afghanistan vs. UK Cricket Match 22 Sep: International
Peace Conf. 24 Sep: Ulema Conference Herat Womens Conf. Terms APRP
Afghanistan Peace & Reintegration Program FRIC Force
Reintegration Cell HPC High Peace Council JS Joint Secretariat PJST
Provincial Joint Secretariat Team PNUW Peace & National Unity
Week PPC Provincial Peace Council F-RIC Website
https://ronna-afghan.harmonieweb.org/fric Contact the FRIC
[email protected] ISAF-FRIC REINTEGRATION UPDATE
September 2012 Afghan Peace and National Unity Week Highlights
Kabul -- President Hamid Karzai issued a Presidential Decree on 13
August designating 19-26 September 2012 as Peace and National Unity
Week. Following the decree, the High Peace Council held a joint
workshop for Provincial Peace Council Chairmen and Provincial
National Department of Security Directors. The event evolved into
an APRP and PNUW focused workshop where attendees acknowledged the
importance of their role in the peace process. During PNUW, about
195 events were organized across all provinces of the country.
Nearly 20,000 people actively participated while over 10 million
people indirectly received peace messages through TV news, round
table discussions, local newspapers, radio talk shows, and word of
mouth. Index Overview - - - - - - - - - - - - - -1 Rabbani
Interview - - - - - - - -2 Karzai/Fahim Comments - - - 3 Int. Peace
Conference - - - - - 4 Ulema Conference - - - - - - - 5 HPC Womens
Shura - - - - - 5 Helmand Poetry Event - - - - -6 Kunduz Ceremony -
- - - - - - 7 Badghis Reintegration - - - - -8 PNUW Events in the
South - 9 Peace Week Activities - - - 10 Reintegration in the North
- 11 Int. Day of Peace Message - 12 Cricket, Unity and Peace - - 13
Afghanistan vs. England - - 14 1
Slide 2
ISAF-FRIC REINTEGRATION UPDATE September 2012 contribution to
the peace process is very important. Doha is on track; we are also
in talks with Saudis, Qataris and other countries, other friends of
Afghanistan in the region. So we hope they will help the Afghans in
the peace process. I think if Pakistan decides to help us, they are
in a much better position to support the peace process, Rabbani
said. Asked about the 2014 pullout of foreign troops, he
acknowledged there would be challenges but Afghan national police
and army would be in a much better position to stabilise the
country. I hope by 2014 they will be taking even more areas under
their control. I request the international friends of Afghanistan
to keep sup-porting the training our national security institutions
so that they could stand on their feet. Rabbani opposes military
solution to conflict send the people of Afghanistan is that it will
achieve the best result and that this message will reach the
opponents who still insist on a military solution. He hoped all
Taliban leaders would one day come to the negotiating table, saying
a number of them interested in a negotiated settlement of the
problem were in contact with the High Peace Council. The top peace
negotiator confirmed a Tokyo meeting, attended by Taliban repre-
sentatives. There are some other talks and meetings taking place.
We hope that these contacts and talks will increase in future.
Peace talks were not limited to meetings in Doha, he said,
stressing the role of Afghanistans neighbors in supporting the
process. Of course Pakistan is an important country and its
Frontier Post 19 September 2012 KABUL (PAN): The High Peace Council
chairman, pledging continued efforts for national reconciliation,
on Tuesday voiced his aversion to a military solution to the
conflict in Afghanistan. There can be no military solution to the
process, to the problems of Afghanistan and the people want peace
and we will mobilise Of course, working for peace will not be
limited to Peace and National Unity Week... In an interview with
NATO TV on the occasion of Peace and Unity Week, Salahuddin Rabbani
said they would be pursuing peace because two important events had
taken place. He referred to last years assassination of father and
former High Peace Council head Burhanuddin Rabbani, and
International Day of Peace, which falls on the September 21.
According to Rabbani, the message the council is going to 2 There
can be no military solution to the process, to the problems of
Afghanistan and the people want peace and we will mobilise
Slide 3
Defeat the rebels who wont join the peace process: 1st VP Qasim
Fahim Ariana News 23 September 2012 First Vice President Muhammad
Qasim Fahim says that if the Taliban and other armed oppositions
will not commit to join in the peace process, talking with them
endlessly is meaningless and they must be defeated. Addressing the
ceremony remembering the ex-chairman of the high peace council
Prof. Burhanuddin Rabbanis first death anniversary, Fahim said the
insurgents must be suppressed seriously in order to force them
enter into peace negotiations. He noted the Taliban and Hizb-
e-Islami could live alongside the citizens if they would accept
Afghanistans constitution. Regional security is linked with
Afghanistans stability; if the ISAF-FRIC REINTEGRATION UPDATE
September 2012 regional countries wont cooperate honestly, they
will drown in misery, the first vice president cautioned. He urged
that the regional countries for their own benefit should cooperate
sincerely for bringing peace to Afghanistan. During his speech at
the ceremony, the chairman of High Peace Council Salahuddin
Rabbani, said the root of insecurity in Afghanistan is outside the
country. He urged the religious scholars throughout the country to
help in rooting out the insurgency. 3 At the ceremony, the UN
representative also stated their support for peace talks,
stressing, Peace must not remain only in slogans, but practical
steps should be taken in this respect. Reconciliation with the
Taliban is one of the major programs of Afghanistans government,
but the mechanism for this reconciliation has repeatedly
encountered wide-spread criti- cisms by the political opponents of
President Karzai. Peace must not remain only in slogans, but
practical steps should be taken in this respect. - -Muhammad Qasim
Fahim Associate Press/Richmond Times Dispatch September 19, 2012
KABUL, Afghanistan The Afghan president today urged his nation to
rally behind the push for peace despite persistent violence,
evoking the memory of former leader who was assassinated while
trying to broker negotiations with the We should all strive for
peace, said Hamid Karzai, adding that doing so is a way to continue
the mission of slain former President Burhanuddin Rabbani, killed
by a suicide bomber posing as an emissary from the insurgents.
Karzai recalled how Rabbani consoled him when the president lost a
brother who was gunned down by insurgents in July 2011. Many
Afghans criticized Karzai for continuing to pursue reconciliation
with the Taliban but Rabbani stood by his side, telling him that
you did not lose the voice of peace. The Afghan nation needs peace.
Karzai urges Afghanistan to rally behind push for peace
Slide 4
ISAF-FRIC REINTEGRATION UPDATE September 2012 International
Peace Conference Warns Taliban of Failure Saturday, 22 September
2012 Written by Sharif Amiry The Taliban will not regain power in
Afghanistan and the fight against them will continue until they
accept the countrys Constitution, warned First Vice President
Mohammed Qasim Fahim. Fahim told those at the two-day Peace and
Unity Week conference in Kabul that the Taliban will never again
regain power and Afghans will not lose the past decade's
achievements. "If they do not accept the Afghanistan Constitution,
the fight will continue," Fahim said. He went on to address
concerns that the withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan
will see the Taliban gain an upper hand, reassuring that it would
not happen. "The Taliban will never return to power again and they
will never have the place over the people as they had before," he
added. Also at the conference, head of Afghanistan's High Peace
Council Salahuddin Rabbani called on religious scholars of all
Islamic countries to fight against extremism. Meanwhile, the United
Nations Assistance Mission to Afghanistan (UNAMA) reassured that it
would support 4 Afghanistans peace negotiations. "Peace cannot be
achieved by proclamation or by statements," UNAMA Deputy Special
Representative Nicholas Haysom said at the gathering. "Afghans
recognize that the destiny is a common one and can only be jointly
managed by respecting the differences due to accommodating the
aspirations of all, not only by the silencing the guns, but by
building a just peace that benefits all. The conference was held to
bring together several envoys from around the world to discuss
solutions to achieving peace in Afghanistan. Kabul Invited guests
from over 15 countries attended an International Peace Conference
at the Serena Hotel on September 22, 2012. Well-known Afghan
religious and political leaders, as well as scholars, were present
for the event. The participants expressed their support to the
peace process and exchanged views and insights on how to bring the
two sides to the negotiating table. Speakers at the event
emphasized the importance of all Afghans having a united position
when it comes to peace. Attendees listen to guest speakers at the
Serena Hotel Kabul Hosts International Peace Conference
Slide 5
ISAF-FRIC REINTEGRATION UPDATE September 2012 5 Herat - The
September 24 womens shura, organized by the womens branch of the
High Peace Council in Kabul, had approximately 150 attendees.
Prominent women from Kabul attended, including representatives from
Parliament and female HPC members. Speakers included the Herat
Governor, HPC member Hawa Allam Nooristani, HPC member Ulema
Conference Champions the Cause of Peace HPC Womens Shura Marks
Herat PNUW Celebration and head of the prisoners committee, Wakil
Anwar Khan Is-Haqzai, PPC head Malawai Sarwar, and PC chairman Dr.
Faizzadeh. The participants stressed the need for peace and
discussed ways how to move the peace process forward. They called
for a nation-wide support of the peace process and stressed that
peace efforts are obligatory on every Afghan. Other events in Herat
included a large gathering of people from the civil society,
Provincial Council, diplomatic corps, Afghan politicians,
filmmakers, and journalists. Asir Heravi, one of Herat's most
famous poets, recited a poem about peace, while folk musicians from
Herat and Badghis provinces played their indigenous instruments and
sang folk songs. On 25 September, an Ulema Conference was held as
part of a series of events organized for PNUW. The total number of
attendees numbered about 130 people from the Ulema Council
membership as well as others. Attendees at this event included High
Peace Council Members Kashaf, Waqad, Fawzi, Salekzadah, Rohani,
Qasemyar, Muzafari, Shafi Nuristani and Maulawi Joura. Joint
Secretariat attendees were Minister Stanekzai, Deputy Minister
Farhad, and Mr. Hashimimi. Following a recitation of verses from
the Quran, HPC Executive Committee Member, Muzafari opened the
session by first inviting HPC member Waqda to speak. The common
themes of all guest speakers was that Burhanuddin Rabbani was a
great jihadi leader who also championed the cause of peace. Guest
speakers showed full support of the Afghan peace process, while
rejecting the acts of terrorists and extremists and continuation of
violence against Afghans. High Peace Council Member Waqad, said,
Professor Rabbani was martyred a year ago. I salute him and all the
martyrs who gave their lives for Afghanistan. These events to
publicize peace will continue. Every Afghan needs food for
sustenance and security to live, Waqad said. It is the duty of all
Muslims to help us with peace. HPC Member Kashaf echoed similar
sentiments when he stated, Without peace, there is no other way and
peace is the only way to follow. Kashaf then offered that the Ulema
Council had always been a great friend of t he HPC and would
continue to work together for peace. HPC First Vice Chairman
Mujahid concurred with Kashaf by saying, The Ulemas first
responsibility is to think about everyone and Islam and if there is
a difference between them, you must interfere, mediate and make it
right. Democracy is good, he said, but it needs to be in the right
context. We are an Islamic country; therefore, our context is
Islamic tradition. Maulawi Joorah, an HPC, Balkh Ulema, member,
noted, The best gift that God has given us is that He made us
human. The second best gift, he said, is the ability to speak, but
this comes with responsibility. There- fore we should use this gift
to resolve our differences.
Slide 6
ISAF-FRIC REINTEGRATION UPDATE September 2012 6 Helmand
Province -- Helmand Governor Mohammad Gulab Mangal, NDS Chief BG
Nazir Ali Wahidi, Security Commander (PCoP) Colonel Abdul Nabi
Elham, and Provincial Council Chairman Abdul Bari Barakzai took
part in a poetry festival on the Day of Peace. Tribal elders and
religious scholars also participated in this event on September 21,
2012. At the poetry festival, the state administrative officials,
tribal elders, and cultural and literary personnel took the time to
join with the Helmand Governor to insist on bringing forth
everlasting peace in the province. They called for the Taliban
waslawalu (i.e., warlords) to join the current peace process. The
Helmand Governor pointed to the success of the peace process in
Helmand and its effectiveness. At the same time, he noted that
tribal elders, Peace Poetry Festival Convenes in Helmand Rasaniz
Daily (Kunduz ) 17 September 2012 - A series of cultural and sports
activities, such as drawing competition among schoolchildren,
volleyball match between ex-Taliban fighters and prison inmates,
and a football tournament between Provincial Governor honours peace
advocates the Kunduz districts have been organized to mark the
International Peace Day in the last two weeks in Kunduz province.
The Kunduz Civil Society Network, in collaboration with the Kunduz
University, Department of Education, UNAMA and the Provincial
Reconstruction Team (PRT), organized the events. More activities
were conducted until the end of September. The Kunduz Provincial
Governor honoured the organizations that played the key role in
organizing the events to promote peace. Peace Events from around
the Provinces religious scholars, spin jeray (graybeards) all have
as their duty to take part in bringing peace forth. This part, he
said, included putting an end to violence in the province and
taking initiatives to bring good graces to the community. The
Provincial Peace Shura Chairman, Malim Shah Wali, complimented the
provincial leaders in Helmand for their efforts and added that
since the first day of this peace process until today, a large
number of angry warlords have joined with (reintegrated) with the
state (GIRoA). Malim Shah Wali said that the plan has support, such
that in the future, peace will be empowered as they have an aim to
travel to various districts, and the process will still have
success and effectiveness. This is the first time that a poetry
festival for peace was convened; poets stressed in their own poems
the need to produce peace..
Slide 7
7 ISAF-FRIC REINTEGRATION UPDATE September 2012 Kunduz
Reintegration Ceremony marks Peace Week Activities Kunduz residents
celebrated Peace and National Unity Week at the Kunduz Provincial
Center on Sept. 18. As part of the peace activities, eight anti-
government elements (AGE) decided to join the peace process by
laying down their weapons. A reconciliation ceremony was held for
the Commander, Sarwar, along with his group. The reintegrees were
welcomed by Provincial and Kunduz High Peace Council officials. In
attendance were Mohammad Amwar Jegdalik, the Kunduz Governor, and
Assadullah Omarkhail, the Kunduz High Peace Council Director. Other
attendees were the Chief of Police (COP), National Department of
Security (NDS) officials, media, key reconciler commanders, and
influential community people. A media conference was held where
peace program progresses were shared with the press. Newly approved
Small Grant Projects (SGP) agreements were prepared and signed.
Project inauguration ceremonies were also held during the week. The
speakers at the gathering delivered their speeches related to the
late Professor Rabbani, peace and its importance. Another event was
a huge gathering at the PG office with more than 1000 people.
Community elders and Islamic scholars were invited. * * * * * *
*
Slide 8
Badghis Province -- A reconciliation ceremony was held in
Badghis Province as part of Peace and National Unity Week. Two
groups totaling 26 anti- government elements (AGE) with their 26
weapons, led by Mullah Delbar and Abdul Samad from Qadis District
of Badghis Province, joined the Afghanistan Peace and Reintegration
Program (APRP.) The Deputy Provincial Governor (PG), heads of
National Department of Security (NDS), Provincial Peace Council
(PPC), Provincial Joint Secretariat Team (PJST), an APRP Regional
Associate, and influential people participated. The head of NDS,
Deputy of PG, and PPC secretary gave speeches in regards to peace
building, unity and APRP objectives. They passed peace messages and
requested other AGEs to joined APRP as well. ISAF-FRIC
REINTEGRATION UPDATE September 2012 8 Badghis Reintegration and
Reconciliation Ceremony
Slide 9
ISAF-FRIC REINTEGRATION UPDATE September 2012 9 Southern
Afghanistan Celebrates Peace and National Unity Week Kandahar PG
opens Ceremony Kandahari women at peace shura Contestant speaks at
Kandahar poetry contest PPC Chair speaks at Daman shura Billboard
promotes peace in Zabul Attendees at peace shura in Shah Joy
Slide 10
ISAF-FRIC REINTEGRATION UPDATE September 2012 Peace Week
Activities in Afghanistan Provinces 10 Herat Province -- To kick
off Herats celebration of peace week, the Provincial Peace Council
commemorated Rabbanis death anniversary on September 19, in an
event that was attended by more than 2,000 people. Governor Saba,
NDS Chief General Saboor, PPC Head Malawi Sarwar, and Chair of the
Provincial Peace Council Dr. Faizzadeh spoke, along with Allhaj Mir
Abdul Khaleq, former deputy governor and head of the newly formed
Herat Jehadi Leaders Council. The speakers remarks focused on
memories of Rabbani and were largely apolitical. Other peace week
activities included the reconciliation of a group of 15 former
fighters from Ghorian district on September 18, bringing the total
of Herat reconcilees since the beginning of the APRP to 650. On
September 20, in a formal ceremony attended by the Governor and
other high officials, NDS handed over 235 weapons to the DIAG
program. Throughout the week, messages were aired on local radio
stations and billboards were put up throughout Herat city
commemorating the event. Herats civil society held a stadium rally
on September 23 to mark to mark International Peace Day as well as
peace week. Governor Saba, who spoke at the rally, said the
organizers filled the stadium stands with about 2000 participants.
Speeches were constructive. Security was good. All the local
journalists were there to cover it. Bamyan Province -- In Bamyan,
the day was marked with songs, claps and laughter as the peace day
was celebrated with a concert of local music, drama and poetic
speeches. The event was co-organized by UNAMA and a youth group
called Kanoon Tafahum and brought together well-known singers from
Bamyan and Dai Kundi provinces. Bamyan Deputy Governor Mr. Asif
Mubaligh led Bamyan officials and Civil Society leaders in speaking
about the importance of peace. The Bamyan Governor, Habiba Sarabi,
who is the only female provincial governor of Afghanistan,
participated in the main peace day event held in Kabul. Balkh
Province -- In Mazar-e- Sharif, the capital of Balkh Province,
deputy provincial governor Zahir Wahdat spoke about how Islam
promotes peace. Islam is the religion of peace and wisdom and it
denounces violence and murdering of inno- cent people, said Mr.
Wahdat. Afghan folk music concert at the peace day ceremony in
Mazar was performed by a team of local artists representing four
different accents of the northern region. Badakhshan Province -- 39
reconcilees were biometrically enrolled during Peace and National
Unity Week in Badakhshan. A huge conference was also held at the
Provincial Governors office. Ten thousand people attended a huge
gathering and listened to peace related speeches. Takhar Province
-- A huge gathering of more than 3,000 men was held at the
provincial capital. Speeches related to the peace program were
delivered by various speakers. Baghlan Province Minister of Public
Works projects salaries were distributed at a ceremony marking
Peace and National Unity Week. Ten men from an anti- government
element (AGE) in Jilga District joined the peace program vie the
National Department of Security. 38 more AGEs were scheduled to
join the peace program from the same district. Several thousand
local people participated in Quran Azimushan recitation programs at
ten mosques.
Slide 11
ISAF-FRIC REINTEGRATION UPDATE September 2012 11 Reintegration
Ceremonies in Northern Afghanistan
Slide 12
12 ISAF-FRIC REINTEGRATION UPDATE September 2012 Sayed Sami
Sadat, Director of Strategic Communication and Outreach for the
High Peace Council Secretariat, created a video of celebration for
the International Peace Day Celebration in London, England. The
content of the message, both inspiring and positive, is below.
Hello London, good evening Wembley! Today I want to recognize the
indomitable Afghan spirit, the hearty spirit of a nation that
endures, the generous spirit of a people, our people, that offers
love, hope and seeks peace. Our country is young, and in our youth
we see a remarkable future - one of peace and respect for all - a
future without fear. We're joining you in support of Peace One Day
full of enthusiasm for the International Day of Peace, 21
September. It is with great pride that today I share with you just
a few examples of the many projects we pursue. The NGO Skateistan
is organising a variety of activities culminating in a Peace Day
festival with musical performances, photo exhibitions and an Afghan
Circus for High Peace Council Spokesman Shares Successes of
Afghanistan with Great Britain young people, their parents and
young athletes. The UN and the Governor of Bamyan Province, our
first female governor in the country, are observing Peace Day with
the 4th Annual Trek for Peace in Afghanistans Central Highlands.
There are many other partner organizations that support Peace One
Day and are celebrating it with community activities around the
country. Today, as I speak, marks the kick-off of the inaugural
Roshan Afghan Premier League - one of the most ambitious projects
undertaken in this country initiated by Moby Group. The League
demonstrates the power of sports in promoting peace and unity. It's
designed to bring Afghans from all different parts of the country,
promoting togetherness, and creating peaceful Afghan heroes that
our nation's children can look up to. And we're going beyond one
day. We have embarked on a week of peace and national unity. We are
honouring the late Barhanudin Rabbani, who was former President of
Afghanistan and Head of the High Peace Council and lost his life in
the mission for peace. We are organizing hundreds of events
throughout our country. We're preparing for an international peace
conference, where people will gather from all over the world to
give their views of how we can achieve peace for Afghanistan. We
recognize the contribution and importance of our women in achieving
peace and we are holding a dedicated women's peace conference in
the historical city of Herat; we want to listen to everyone who has
something useful to say about peace. The aim for peace and unity
week is to encourage people that now is the time for national unity
and reintegration in order to achieve lasting peace, stability, and
dignity in our times. Today as you enjoy the music concert with
family and friends, I want you to know that Afghanistan is a friend
and an ally! We want to join hands with Peace One Day to say thank
you, we are with you, and good luck. We hope we will have peace one
day in the world! God bless you all!
Slide 13
ISAF-FRIC REINTEGRATION UPDATE September 2012 13 Cricket The
harbinger of unity and peace in Afghanistan Sportskeeda by Deepika
Goparaju Cricket has been the harbinger of unity and peace in
Afghanistan. Cricket brings entertainment and it brings fun. It is
one of the many sports which are attached to the emotions of
millions of fans and the players stand as inspirational icons for
them. But can it bring unity and peace in a country? I did not
really think the answer was yes until an Afghan fan, who held a
placard saying Cricket has brought unity and peace in Afghanistan
(in their match against England in the ongoing T20 tournament),
told me I was wrong. Afghanistans history is a story of war and
civil unrest. It remains extremely poor, landlocked, and highly
dependent on foreign aid and trade with neighbouring countries. And
from here, a way out is revealed, a team of heroes taking the hopes
of their country high and raising its pride in the international
(cricket) arena. Like India, the earliest days of cricket in
Afghanistan also go back to Britishers regime, in the nineteenth
century. But unlike India, it did not last long there. The second
and the burgeoning era of the game started when the Afghan refugees
residing in Pakistan started playing cricket and it became popular
among them. So, technically the roots of Afghan cricket lie in
Pakistan. Cricket later became the only game approved by Talibans.
Cricket in Afghanistan, fuelled by the success of its national
cricket team, is now growing in popularity. It has risen from the
lower levels of international cricket to qualify for the Twenty20
World Cups. In only 2008, they were in Division 5 of the World
Cricket League, and by 2010 they were competing alongside the best
teams in the world at the ICC World Twenty20. Afghanistan has got a
lot of raw talent. They have got all the basics right and lack only
experience. They never step back, rather look forward to take on
better teams.. The team is yet to have a lot more international
exposure and convert the big chances in the international arena.
Despite lacking proper practice infrastructure in their country,
they have this zeal to prove that Afghans can also win in cricket.
Cricket is not just a game but a ray of hope in their dark, war and
poverty ridden lives. Rising in cricket should bring in a lot of
hope for the youth of Afghanistan.
Slide 14
ISAF-FRIC REINTEGRATION UPDATE September 2012 14 Afghanistan
vs. England ICC World Twenty20 Group A Match - September 21,
2012