UNAMA supports the Afghan-led ‘Kabul Process’ vision for regional cooperation on peace and security

6 Jun 2017

UNAMA supports the Afghan-led ‘Kabul Process’ vision for regional cooperation on peace and security

KABUL - The Kabul Process organised at the initiative of Afghanistan signals strong ownership of the peace efforts that have implications for both Afghanistan and the region, said the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan at today’s ‘Kabul Process on Peace and Security Cooperation’ meeting, where stakeholders from 26 countries and organizations took the opportunity to establish important steps toward cooperation on crucial issues surrounding peace and security, including terrorism.

At the meeting, UNAMA endorsed the ownership taken by the Afghan Government to start a discussion with neighbouring countries about sustained stability in the region, as well as the establishment of the Kabul Process – a forum to increase regional cooperation for peace and stability – and recognized that the gathering sends a strong signal that the international community stands firmly with Afghanistan and its people to seek collective solutions to the current challenges.

“I am encouraged to see the participation of high-level representatives from so many countries, which signifies the solidarity of participating countries with the Afghan people, particularly in the wake of the egregious attacks in Kabul,” said UN envoy Tadamichi Yamamoto, who is also head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). “It demonstrates the confidence that the international community has in the government and Afghan society at large to find a common vision for countering terrorism and ensuring peace.”

President Ashraf Ghani stated at the opening of the meeting that the gathering will serve to start the difficult process of defining a pathway that can lead to a just peace that ensures stability, security and the rule of law. The participants strongly supported this vision for peace, and commended it as underlining the principle of inclusion, an important building block for a national peace process. The conference participants noted that such a process should be embedded in a positive international consensus to bring peace to the country and stability to the wider region. They also discussed ways to contribute to an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process.

“For the region at large, a stable Afghanistan is more valuable than an Afghanistan at war,” Mr. Yamamoto said, noting that UNAMA offered its full support to the government and its people to invest in comprehensive peace-building efforts to create trust and address the causes of conflict. “The United Nations welcomes the Afghan President’s renewed commitment to a peace process and to starting a national dialogue.”

UNAMA endorsed today’s meeting as laying the foundation for future cooperation among Afghanistan and its neighbouring countries to tackle the complex issue at hand comprehensively. “This newly established framework will provide the forum required through which other related initiatives can contribute and thereby reinforce overall progress toward peace and stability,” said the UN envoy.

In this context, the United Nations maintains that the inclusion of various stakeholders, such as women representatives, civil society organizations, political actors and young Afghans, as well as the promotion of human rights and the protection of civilians, will be a key component of long-term sustainable peace in the country, and welcomes the Afghan Government’s commitments in this regard.