Differences of opinion cast a shadow on plans to hold a conference of religious authorities from Pakistan and Afghanistan in March.
Efforts to strengthen relations between the religious authorities in both countries with a view
Efforts to strengthen relations between the religious authorities in both countries with a view to restarting the peace process have got off to a bumpy start. Two rounds of confidence building meetings have been held. An 8-member Afghan delegation led by Qiamudin Kashaf, head of the Afghanistan Ulema Council, travelled to Islamabad to talk to Pakistani counterparts.
It now appears the Pakistani side has a different opinion on the way forward.
Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi, chairman of the Pakistan Ulema Council, points out the Taleban are the main stakeholders in the peace process, and should not be ignored.
Ashrafi was also critical of the repeated changes in the date of the conference. The conference, which was scheduled for Feb 22, has now been moved to March. A date has not been finalised.
However, one of Pakistan’s leading religious voices, Abdul Rauf Farooqi, has endorsed the planned conference. “These sessions can be beneficial for ensuring peace in Afghanistan,” he says.
Farooqi further adds, “If external countries don’t interfere in Afghanistan, countries in the region can suggest proper strategies.” In his opinion, the meeting should be repeated in different parts of Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, fresh differences have arisen over the visit of Pakistan’s Jamiat-e-Islam leader Maulana Fazl Rehman to Qatar. Fazl Rehman was in Doha to participate in talks being held to end war in Afghanistan. The talks are between US, Taleban and Afghan government officials, media reports say.
A statement by Afghan religious officials that they should have coordinated Rehman’s Qatar visit has further widened the gap.
Done deed
However, the differences have not killed the proposed conference of ulema, who will discuss issues including the legitimacy in Islam of suicide killings.
Abu Huraira, chairman of Majlis Saut-Ul-Islam, has said in public there was an agreement to hold a conference of religious authorities.
Up to 500 participants – half of them from Pakistan -could attend the conference to be held in Kabul. The decision was taken at the meeting in Islamabad, Aminudin Muzafari, member of Afghanistan Ulema Council, told the press. He announced that a delegation from Pakistan was scheduled to visit Kabul to take the discussions forward.
Can the ulema aid the peace process? The general opinion is the outcome will depend on whether or not Pakistan is serious about the conference.
Dastagair Hazhbar, a political analyst, says if Pakistan is honest it will have an “important role” in ensuring peace in Afghanistan.
MP from Herat Saljoqi warns “national interest” should not be sacrificed in the cause of peace.
Mohammad Aslam Jawadi, lecturer at Ibn Sina private university, believes an honest interpretation on the question of suicide killings and violence “would be a step forward”. He adds, “Taleban and other armed opponents use religion and the Shariah to justify the carrying out of suicide attacks.” He thinks the conference could condemn such a view.
Would the opinion of the ulema make a difference? Edris Rahmani, an international relations expert, is not optimistic. “The views of religious authorities could be important for the rank and file Taleban but it cannot change the mind of Taleban leaders.”
The Taleban have already dismissed the upcoming conference as a ploy of the US. It has warned religious authorities in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Deoband in India, and Al Azhar University in Cairo not to participate.
Afghan Minister for Foreign Affairs Zulmai Rasool is still optimistic the Taleban will join the peace process through the efforts of religious authorities.
