USIP pledges to resolutely cooperate in capacity building for peace

In a meeting between the State Minister for Peace and the Head and Deputy Director of the US Institute of Peace (USIP), both sides agreed on the institution's cooperation with regards to capacity building in the field of peace.
At the meeting, the Special Representative of the President, Abdul Salam Rahimy said that the State Ministry for Peace (SMP) was working on the peace process, capacity building, preparations for peace talks, as well as on the programs planned for peace agreement’s post-signing period. The two sides also discussed the seven-point peace plan recently devised by President Ashraf Ghani.
Rahimy about the activities of the ministry said that the negotiating body of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan had been appointed after thorough consultations with political parties and civil institutions.
Rahimy while explaining the ministry's programs said that all people, even at the village level, should be involved in the peace process through the various mechanisms and programs that the ministry had in place.
He stressed that "unless we have the support of the people, there will be no peace," adding that the ministry was focusing on a practical plan for working with the people – something which needed further cooperation.
While noting that everyone was thirsty for peace, Rahimy maintained that the Afghan peace process had national and international stakeholders who had all concluded that war and military measures couldn’t resolve Afghanistan’s 40-year crisis.
Nancy Lindborg, the head of the USIP, described the establishment of SMP as a major step in securing peace in Afghanistan and termed the capacity building in the sphere of peace as crucial.
She pledged to provide all kinds of cooperation, especially in regard to capacity building and working with communities.