KABUL - A gathering of religious scholars from 24 Islamic countries in the Afghan capital, Kabul, on Tuesday, urged the country’s main armed opposition group, the Taliban, to stop killing innocent people in the name of jihad or ‘holy war.’

Participants of the International Islamic Conference, organized under the theme ‘Islam and Peace,’ discussed and exchanged views on difficulties and challenges faced by the people of Afghanistan and the region amidst rising violence. They called for an urgent need to end the conflict in Afghanistan, and pledged their firm support to that end.

"Killing Muslims and suicide attacks are forbidden in Islam. There is no room for violence in Islam," said an advisor to the Speaker of Iraq's Parliament, Sheikh Muhammad Faalah Altayi.

An Afghan body responsible for driving peace efforts in the country, the High Peace Council (HPC), had jointly organized the event with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), a network of 57 Islamic states promoting Muslim solidarity in economic, social, and political affairs.

At the conference, religious scholars (known locally as ‘ulema’) from Afghanistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, Indonesia, Sudan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and the United States, among other countries, focused on four main topics: Islam, peace and security; Islam, a religion of moderation and brotherhood; the influence of ulema on the national peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan; and the importance of cooperation among neighbouring countries for achieving sustainable peace in Afghanistan and the region.

The participants highlighted the need to use the leverage which religious scholars have in local communities for promoting a culture of peace.

A Pakistani ulema member condemned the tactic of suicide attacks calling it ”un-Islamic.”

"Islam does not allow the killing of people. Suicide attacks should be stopped," said the President of the Dawat Academy International Islamic University in Islamabad, Dr. Ahmad Azhare.

Another participant from Pakistan’s Ahlul Bayt World Assembly, Mohammad Sallar, said, "Killing of innocent people and suicide attacks are forbidden in Islam. Our brothers should join the government and have a peaceful life."

The head of the HPC, Sallahuddin Rabbani, said that the Afghan conflict has become “complicated” and efforts to resolve it required support from Islamic countries.

“We desperately need the support of Islamic countries in particular the cooperation of religious scholars,” said Mr. Rabbani. “With the cooperation of all you distinguished religious scholars, we want to consult and discuss the peace process and prepare grounds for direct negotiations wherever the ulema think is suitable.”

The event’s participants responded positively to the HPC’s call, with thee OIC announcing its full cooperation to Afghanistan’s national peace and reconciliation process.

The OIC Ambassador in Kabul, Aydin Nurhan, said his organization is ready to make “all-out effort” to end the miseries and grievances of “Afghan brothers and sisters.”

In his message to the conference, President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan, appealed for a peaceful end to the Afghan conflict.

“The blood of innocent women, youth, children and senior citizens are shed everyday as a result of the ongoing conflict. It is unfortunate that, in the current war, the killers and victims both claim to be ’Islamic,’ which makes the situation further complicated and prepares ground for foreign intervention.”

The OIC’s Secretary General, Ekmeleddin Ihsanoğlu, in his message to the gathering, urged Islamic countries to extend their support to the people of Afghanistan in reaching a peaceful settlement to the ongoing conflict.