Kabul elders call for participation of all Afghans in peacefully resolving community conflict

15 Nov 2018

Kabul elders call for participation of all Afghans in peacefully resolving community conflict

SUROBI - The active participation of all Afghans in local conflict-resolution is necessary for creating a more stable, inclusive and peaceful region, said community leaders in a UN-backed radio programme broadcast from the Surobi district of Kabul province.

Speaking during the programme, aired by Radio Surobi to audiences in and around the district, panellists urged communities to engage in non-violent conflict management and underscored the importance of tolerance and collaboration in addressing community challenges.

“The war not only is destroying us physically but also is weakening our moral, social and cultural values,” observed panellist Qazi Allah Gul, a religious scholar and head of a local civil society group. “We are in an era of knowledge and logic; let’s resolve our disputes through peaceful means.”

Surobi, one of Kabul’s 15 districts, has in recent years suffered from several community conflicts. Earlier this year, for example, a mediation process, supported by UNAMA and led by Provincial Governor Mohammad Yacoub Haidari and community leaders from 14 districts, helped two tribes resolve a longstanding land dispute that had turned violent.

According to Surobi local council head Rahmatullah, the major causes of conflict in the district are underdevelopment and poverty “People are poor, illiterate and jobless,” he said, stressing that many community disputes could be resolved by Surobi’s local council using peaceful mediation.

More than 100 communities, in mostly rural villages, live in the picturesque Surobi district bordered by Parwan and Kapisa provinces to the north, Laghman to the east, and Nangarhar to the south.

UNAMA’s central regional office supported the radio programme as part of a countrywide outreach initiative aimed at creating opportunities using radio, television and social media for local communities to engage in dialogue on pressing issues affecting them.

As part of their final recommendations during the broadcast programme, panellists agreed on the importance of non-violent means to resolve local conflicts and appealed to all community members to join in provincial development initiatives.

In accordance with its mandate as a political mission, UNAMA supports the Afghan people and government to achieve peace and stability. UNAMA backs conflict prevention and resolution, promoting inclusion and social cohesion, as well as strengthening regional cooperation. The Mission supports effective governance, promoting national ownership and accountable institutions that are built on respect for human rights.

UNAMA provides 'good offices' and other key services, including diplomatic steps that draw on the organization’s independence, impartiality and integrity to prevent disputes from arising, escalating or spreading. The Mission coordinates international support for Afghan development and humanitarian priorities.