The Inaugural Meeting of the Leadership Committee of High Council for National Reconciliation

The first meeting of the leadership committee of the High Council for National Reconciliation (HCNR) was held today, 5 December 2020, at the Presidential Palace with the participation of Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, the President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, the Chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation (HCNR), Vice Presidents, the Deputies and leadership committee members of the HCNR, the speakers of both houses of the Parliament, and political and jihadi leaders.
At the beginning of the meeting, President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani said that sensitive situations are both an opportunity and a threat, but exploiting these opportunities depends on national unity. The president stated that the gathering itself is a clear message to the regional and international partners of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the negotiating team, and especially the people of Afghanistan.
Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, the Chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation (HCNR) said that moving towards peace, at this historic and sensitive stage, requires political unity more than ever. He added that “We will strive to make the General Assembly and the High Council for National Reconciliation represent the national consensus of the people of Afghanistan.”
Dr. Abdullah stated that the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan has made clear its good intentions for peace, and hope that the Taliban will also make their good intention clear and reduce the violence.  He added: “We are working to reach a ceasefire in the country.”
The chairman of the HCNR stressed that the negotiating team of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan represents all the people of Afghanistan and is supported by the council.
He further stated that the meetings of the HCNR, the Leadership Committee and the plenary sessions will be held on a regular basis henceforward. There will be meaningful discussions and we will determine what other steps we can take to achieve sustainable peace in the country.
He continued that the people of Afghanistan and the High Council for National Reconciliation have questions about how to maintain the achievements of the Afghan people, our national institutions are not harmed and the values of the people are strengthened, and at the same time live in peace with all Afghan people and the region.
Dr. Abdullah praised the former leaders of the peace process, Shaheed Borhanuddin Rabbani, the late Hazrat Sebghatullah Mojaddedi, the late Pir Seyyed Ahmad Gailani and Ustad Karim Khalili. He said that the national hero, while accepting serious risks, tried several times to maintain peace in the country in order to prevent wasting opportunities for peace. Now, this huge responsibility rests on the shoulders of this group and all of us.
Dr. Abdullah emphasized that the ownership of the peace process belongs to our people. We will spare no effort to involve all strata of the Afghan people in order to meet their demands properly. He said: “Political will has been created to end the ongoing war, and therefore, we call on all Afghans and those living in Taliban-controlled areas to play their key role in achieving peace in the country.”
The chairman the HCNR further stated that we should not have a self-interested view of peace; because in the continuation of war, the survival of no one is guaranteed and it will only lead to the destruction of the country. Concluding his speech, Dr. Abdullah said: “I promise to dedicate myself to the peace without slightest interference in government affairs.”
The former President Hamid Karzai also addressed the meeting. He praised the efforts for consensus in the High Council for National Reconciliation and called for a more strong presence of political figures.
While stating his support for the negotiating team, Mr. Karzai assured of his cooperation in the peace process.
Ustad Abdul Rab Rasool Sayyaf said that whether we are a member of the council or not, we are committed to working for peace.
Praising the negotiating team of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Ustad Sayyaf said that efforts were made to create a rift between the team using religious and other issues, but fortunately the team maintained its unity and also did not allow the efforts for sidelining the Afghan government to succeed.
He stressed that the decision about the government system is the right and authority of the people and we would decide on it together. He added: “we should strengthen our internal line and if we do not break down from the inside, no one can break down us from outside.”
Mr. Mohammad Younus Qanooni, one of the jihadi leaders, said: "How to plan for peace, the roadmap for achieving peace and the unification of different views will be part of the agenda of the upcoming meetings of the Leadership Committee."
Mr Qanooni emphasized that peace is not the sole job of the Afghan government nor of the High Council for National Reconciliation; it is a national issue. He added that it is good to transfer the decision-making to the HCNR in a real and meaningful way, and both the "Decision-Making" and "Status Depiction" should come together.
Referring to the Bonn Conference, Mr. Qanooni said that the same opportunity has been provided and we are currently at a crossroad; either walking in the past and continuing the war or opening a new window for the Afghan people.
Ustad Mohammad Karim Khalili also welcomed the first meeting of the leadership committee of the High Council for National Reconciliation and said that peace is a serious necessity of the country. There is no doubt about the consensus on peace, as it is the wish of all Afghans. 
Referring to the commencement of Afghanistan peace negotiations in Doha, Mr. Khalili said that there is a good opportunity for peace to take shape. The people of Afghanistan sincerely thank the negotiating team of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.
Enayatullah Babar Farahmand, the Deputy Chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation, thanked the international community for its support of the process for achieving sustainable peace in Afghanistan. He added: “Our young generation wants justice and the participation of all ethnic groups and strata of the society, which ensures the sustainability of peace in the country.”
Ustad Atta Mohammad Noor, a jihadi leader, said there should be a plan for peace and our red lines should be clear, however, if we do not announce them. Emphasizing the maintaining of achievements, he said in order to ensure social justice, there must be a program for this, and victims must be involved in the process.
Foreign Minister Mohammad Hanif Atmar said that the inauguration of the HCNR is an important political step in the history of our country, assuring the people of Afghanistan, regional and international partners and the Taliban that we want sustainable peace.
He added that the people have consensus on maintaining the government system as Islamic Republic and this is a condition for the sustainability of peace.
Emphasizing the unity and consensus on peace and explicitly of the interests of the regional countries in a peaceful Afghanistan, the Foreign Minister said that the two conditions of the Geneva Conference were peace and good governance and the international community's assistance is conditional on peace and maintaining our values in the Islamic Republic.
Dr. Nasrin Oryakhil also said at the meeting that today's generation is the children of war and the war has claimed many lives and financial victims. She added that the greatest impact of the war has been on women and children, and that the result is the loss of peace and tranquility in the society.
Ms. Oryakhil emphasized the culture of reciprocity and said: “As our Prophet (PBUH) used to forgive, we should also use forgiveness and seize the opportunity.”
Mohammad Ismail Ghazanfar, on behalf of the private sector, said: "If there is peace, the private sector will play an important role."
Referring to the country's natural resources, including water, mines and land, he said that Afghanistan's position as a regional land-bridge should be used for the benefit of the country, which would not be possible without peace in Afghanistan.
Summing up the meeting, President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani said that the Afghanistan peace negotiations have reached the second stage. The first stage showed that the task was not easy; but it came to fruition.
President Ashraf Ghani also said that we are all indebted to the constant sacrifice of the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF). These are the honest children of this country who are always supporters of the system.
The President stressed that the people of Afghanistan have consensus on peace and its connecting point is the Loya Jirga, which represents our collective judgment.
He added that the people of Afghanistan have patiently pursued one goal that is to maintain peace in the country, and “we are thankful of this patience”.
The president also emphasized the role of the Ulema, stating that he is calling on the Ulema to come together to manage the consensus on peace.
Worth mentioning that the leadership committee of the HCNR takes the necessary decisions at different stages of the peace process, including the Afghanistan peace negotiations. This structure guarantees consensus among the people of Afghanistan in order to achieve enduring and inclusive peace in the country.
The State Ministry for Peace is responsible for the secretariat of the HCNR and will arrange the meetings of the Leadership Committee.