Press Conference of the State Ministry for Peace within the ‘Government’s Accountability to the Nation’ Program

Sayed Sadat Mansoor Naderi, State Minister for Peace, and the deputy ministers of the SMP, spoke today at a press conference on the ‘Government’s Accountability to the Nation’ and shed light on the activities, challenges and plans of the ministry.
Minister Sadat Naderi said that the purpose of establishing this ministry is to connect the government with the people; Peace structures with the government; Coordinating institutions with peace structures, and serving as a connecting point between the Taliban and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. According to him, the State Ministry for Peace works for peacemaking and peacebuilding.
Minister Naderi stated that the State Ministry for Peace works as the Secretariat of the Negotiation Team of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, and provides technical, logistical and ceremonial support through its working committees. The ministry also serves as the Secretariat of the High Council for National Reconciliation (HCNR). Furthermore, the ministry is active in strengthening regional and international consensus on peace in Afghanistan. He added that the ministry’s officials are also members of the HCNR’s 13 commissions’ leadership committees.
The State Minister for Peace said regarding the ministry’s activities in the field of peacebuilding that the implementation of peace agreements, reintegration, peace education, the spread of peace message, establishing relations with peace institutions in the world, and heeding the three stages of (peacemaking, peacekeeping and peacebuilding) are among the responsibilities of the State Ministry for Peace.
In the main activities of the State Ministry for Peace, he mentioned the technical, content, logistical and ceremonial support for the Negotiation Team of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, ensuring the people’s engagement in the peace process through holding the Consultative Peace Loya Jirga, holding consultative meetings with different segments of the society, and the inclusion of human and civil rights issues. He further stated that in order to strengthen the national, regional and international consensus, the State Ministry for Peace also has had an important role to play, and mentioned the ministry’s cooperation in preparing for the Geneva Conference, establishing an international peace support group and drafting the National Framework of Afghanistan Peace and Development document. He added that the ministry has held several meetings with international organizations during the negotiations and continuously held meetings with politicians.
The State Minister for Peace also explained the future plans of the SMP. He said that the designation of 1400 [solar year] as the year of peace, the efforts to make government institutions’ programs peace-based, expansion of the peace message to the provinces of Afghanistan, implementation of peace education programs and planning and implementation of reintegration programs in war-affected areas are among the programs for which an implementation plan has been prepared.
Minister Naderi also answered journalists’ questions in a part of the ‘Accountability to the Nation’ program.
In answer to a question about various peace institutions, Mr. Naderi said that each institution has a different responsibility and competence. Regarding the release of Taliban prisoners, he said that the people’s demand from prisoners’ release was reaching a ceasefire, which has not been achieved yet. He said we want ceasefire and the government leadership will decide on the release of the remaining prisoners.