Afghanistan gears up for Kabul peace initiative

By Shadi Khan Saif

KABUL, Afghanistan (AA) - The Afghan government has a launched mobilization campaign to host world leaders for next month’s Kabul Initiative conference aimed at streamlining efforts for peaceful resolution in the country.

Javed Faisal, spokesman for the Office of Chief Executive in the National Unity Government (NUG), told reporters in Kabul the June 6 conference will be attended by top-ranking officials from the region, the U.S., the UN, the EU, Norway, Canada, and Central Asia.

He stressed all efforts for a political and peaceful solution of the conflict in Afghanistan should be Afghan-owned and Afghan-driven.

“Our objective is to streamline all small and big steps taken towards peace, and ensure Afghanistan leads all these efforts,” he said.

There have been multiple and scattered initiatives and contacts at the national and international levels with the Taliban for peace.

The government in Kabul has been showcasing its landmark peace deal with the Hezb-e-Islami party as a success story towards possible peace in the country.

Earlier this month, President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani acknowledged that this process was not without risks, adding, “A government willing to take risks is a credible partner in peace.”

Mohammad Hanif Atmar, Ghani’s top security adviser, is in Moscow attending the 8th International Meeting of High Representatives for Security Issues in Tver, Russia. On the sidelines of the event, Atmar met his Turkish, Russian, Indian and Central Asian counterparts, and discussed the Kabul Initiative.