KANDAHAR - Peace is a national and public process that requires all people to work for it and not just the Government, Afghan High Peace Council Chairman and former Afghan president Burhanduddin Rabbani told hundreds of elders and government officials participating in a two-day regional meeting that began today in Kandahar City.

“Peace is not a government process, but it is a national and people-related process,” Rabbani said.

Rabbani urged the regional peace committees to redouble their work for peace, reconciliation and reintegration, saying “if there is peace and stability in Afghanistan, there will be peace in the whole region.”

Almost 400 tribal elders, intellectuals and ullama members from Kandahar, Zabul, Helmand, Uruzgan and Nimroz provinces attended the meeting led by the High Peace Council.

Also speaking at the event, recently reconciled former Taliban Commander Maulwai Noor-ul-Aziz

Urging the Taliban to give up violence and join the peace and reconciliation process, he said the current war is not Afghan's war and it has been imposed on Afghans by foreign countries who have their own interests.

"Afghanistan is an Islamic country and its Government is carrying out all its affairs under the commandments of the Koran and Hadith,” said Maulwai Noor-ul-Aziz.

In addition to the regional meeting, the Council visited Khakrez district of Kandahar province where members met with local elders and residents.

The head of the Council secretariat, Mohammad Masoom Stanikzai, also met separately with provincial Governors.

The United Nations provides technical and logistical assistance for the Council’s work through a group of experts known as the Salaam Support Group.

By UNAMA Kandahar