The first meeting of the Senior Coordination Committee on Peace Affairs was held

Following the issuance of a presidential decree on establishing a Senior Coordination Committee on Peace Affairs, the first meeting of the committee was chaired by Abdul Salam Rahimy, the Special Representative of the President and the State Minister for Peace.
Abdul Salam Rahimy said at the meeting that in the past, most of the governmental institutions were focused on war management. Now that focus needs to be changed into peace-building efforts, thus the Senior Coordination Committee on Peace Affairs was established. 
The State Minister for Peace, noting that there was a consensus on peace, said it is now necessary to reach a consensus on the price that the Afghan people will be paying for peace. He insisted that the price should be acceptable to all. He added that the performance of the state institutions and the committee will prove the strength of the government in the peace process.
Abdul Salam Rahimi talked about the ceasefire saying that the capacity to bring and maintain the ceasefire must be coherent. People play an important role in structuring peace, he added and cited the role of the Islamic scholars in creating consensus as an example.
Mr. Rahimy said that Islamic scholars, those who were inside the country and those who went abroad, played a key role in establishing and strengthening consensus on peace.
The Special Representative of the President and the State Minister for Peace emphasized on the mobilization of women and their participation in the peace process. He added that the process of reconciliation in Afghanistan should begin and tribal councils should be used as a means of mitigation. He added that the government is committed to providing services to people in any part of the country, but the need for accurate and effective services is greater than ever at this time.
The State Minister for Peace, emphasizing awareness of the peace process, said precision in transferring information is an important factor and that the messages should be accurate and based on the values of freedom of expression.
Abdul Salam Rahimy said that for strengthening regional and global consensus in the Afghan peace process there is a need for strong diplomacy based on regional and global interest.
In another part of his speech, he spoke about the funding of the Taliban, illegal use of natural resources, as well as poppy cultivation and drug production. He said alternative employment and livelihood opportunities are needed for the Taliban after joining the peace process.
Taj Mohammad Jahed, Deputy Minister of Ministry of Hajj and Religious Affairs said that the programs must be formulated based on national interests and that the effectiveness of the structures be considered.
Naheed Sorabi, Deputy Minister of Finance, emphasized coordination over financial support for peace-related plans.
Mohammad Ismail Miakhail, Director-General of Radio Television Afghanistan noted the media experiences of other countries that have gone through the peace process, adding that media awareness and media presence of politicians should be accurate and based on the facts of the process.
Dr. Aleman, Deputy Minister of Ministry of Refugees, Returnees and Repatriation (MoRR) said that, pointed to existing institutions that could be effective in the peace process. Referring to the Poverty Reduction Council, she said it could play a role in the reintegration process. She also said that the government must plan ahead for the return of a large influx of refugees into the country. 
Nilab Mobarez, Secretary-General of Afghanistan Red Crescent Society (ARCS) said that emotions of people need to be understood and they should be treated responsibly. She emphasized on removing the culture of hatred from society and promoting more human dignity. She said that the prison situation needs more attention. Ms Mobarez also said that irresponsible armed forces are one of the major causes of insecurity in the country.
Emphasizing the strengthening of the internal consensus, Shahzar Zadran, Deputy Minister of Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD) said that the public dimension of peace should be considered and their participation must be secured. He said there is a need for alternative livelihoods as well. 
Ahmad Reshad Tutakhel, Director General of the Prisons and Detention Centers, said that unfortunately, prisons have become an extremist machine and that the situation of prisons and dealing with prisoners is inadequate. He added that now it is necessary to take action in this regard.
Hashmatullah Ghafoori, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock said that after the peace agreement there will be a need for more jobs. He added that the institutions should coordinate with each other in advance to create job opportunities for those who are going to join the process. 
At last, Abdul Salam Rahimy, the Special Representative of the President and the State Minister for Peace said that the government is not an obstacle to the peace but a facilitator to the process.
He added that the government is responsible for dealing with the peace process responsibly; therefore, a Senior Coordination Committee on Peace Affairs has been set up and we must speed up the process and reform our working mechanisms.
He also added that government services to the public should be strengthened and attention should be paid to improving the conditions of prisons and prisoners in the country.