KABUL - Representatives from the international community met with Afghan Government officials on 27 September and reaffirmed their commitment to the Afghan peace process, following the assassination of Professor Burhanuddin Rabbani, former President of Afghanistan and Chairman of the High Peace Council (HPC). Print English

The group expressed their support for Afghan Government efforts to bring peace to Afghanistan, while also reaffirming their high regard for the leadership shown by President Karzai during this difficult period. The meeting concluded with participants stressing that the tragic assassination of Professor Rabbani should reinforce unity and consolidation of support behind the peace process, and all representatives of donor Governments and stakeholders emphasized in the strongest terms their support for the continuation of the Afghanistan Peace and Reintegration Programme (APRP).

Participants observed a one minute silence at the start of the meeting to pay their respects to Professor Rabbani and his remarkable efforts to achieve peace in Afghanistan, and also expressed condolences to his family, as well as to the other victims of the 20 September attack, who included Minister Stanekzai, the Head of the APRP Joint Secretariat. The group wished him a speedy recovery.

“We are determined to redouble our efforts and are grateful for the continued support of the international community,” said APRP Joint Secretariat Deputy Minister Farhadullah Farhad, who co-chaired the meeting alongside United Nations Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General (DSRSG) for Afghanistan, Martin Kobler.

The meeting included officials from the Joint Secretariat of APRP and representatives from the Governments of Australia, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, the United States, the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).