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

The meeting of the Senior Coordination Committee on Peace Affairs was held with the presence of Sayed Sadat Mansoor Naderi, State Minister for Peace and member of the negotiating team of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Abdullah Khenjani, Deputy Minister for Coordination, Policy and Strategy, and members of the Senior Coordination Committee.
Abdullah Khenjani, Deputy Minister for Coordination, Policy and Strategy of the State Ministry for Peace called the meeting an important step in strengthening coordination among the committee's member institutions.
Sayed Sadat Mansoor Naderi, State Minister for Peace and member of the negotiating team, provided information on the functions and plans of the State Ministry for Peace and recent developments in peace negotiations, and said that the Senior Coordination Committee on Peace Affairs is established by presidential decree and it will act as a collaborator for the State Ministry for Peace in carrying out some of the duties of the members of the committee.
Referring to the consultative meetings of the negotiating team with various strata, Mr. Naderi said that the State Ministry for Peace emphasizes the direct connection of the people with the negotiating team and these meetings will be held continuously with the provinces.
The State Minister for Peace also noted the importance of the role of government ministries and institutions in peacebuilding, saying that by creating a clear mechanism, this role could be better and more prominent.
He also said that the State Ministry for Peace would be involved in the technical and supportive part of the Geneva Conference.
The members of the Senior Coordination Committee on Peace Affairs then presented their views and suggestions for strengthening coordination and drawing up specific peace plans.
Mohammad Yaqub Ahmadzai, Deputy Minister of Jirga and Tribal Affairs at the Ministry of Borders and Tribal Affairs, said that the ministry regularly holds meetings with tribal and council leaders, which could also be effective in gaining public support for the peace process and ceasefire.
Popal Habibi, Deputy Minister of Programs in the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development, referring to the ministry's functions, especially the Citizen Charter Program, said that the ministry, with its active presence, could work in informing people about peace in the villages. He stressed that in addition to conveying the message of peace, it is necessary to root out the causes of war and work to eliminate it.
Taj Mohammad Mujahid, Deputy Minister of Finance and Administration of the Ministry of Hajj and Religious Affairs, briefed on the ministry's plans to promote peace, and said that the ministry plans to launch major programs in support of peace and peace messages by religious scholars to various strata.
Rohullah Neyazi, Deputy Minister of Municipalities in the Independent Directorate of Local Governance, said the that IDLG can work for arranging meetings with the 34 governors in the provinces. He stressed the importance of the role of the people in the peace process and consultative meetings, and said that IDLG will cooperate in establishing a link between the negotiating team and the 33 municipality councils, provincial councils and district councils.
Khalil Rahman Mutawakel, Deputy of Policy and Professional of the Directorate of Prisons Administration, also made suggestions for improving the implementation of pardon and mitigation orders for prisoners, and said that it will be good to establish a peace dialogue at the Open Government National Conference.
Ismail Miakhail, Director General of the National Radio and Television, spoke about the programs related to the peace of the National Television and said that the National Radio and Television will work in the field of peace information and awareness with broadcasts in all provinces. He also made specific suggestions for improving the information flow process.
Nilab Mobarez, Secretary-General of Afghan Red Crescent Society, said that the Afghan Red Crescent Society has access to all areas, including the disputed areas, in 34 provinces, and that in the fourth strategic plan starting in 2021, it intends to work with 30,000 volunteers to ensure social peace at low levels.
Mohammad Naser Sidiqi, Director of Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting of the Ministry of Finance, briefed on the preparations for the Geneva Conference and said that they have worked on the three important documents which will be presented at the conference and in the National Peace Framework document the role of the State Ministry for Peace is considered important in peacemaking.
Sediqullah Fahim, Deputy of National Security Advisor, stressed the need to create a unified stance on peace issue in the government, saying that setting up a committee and holding coordination meetings could bring the necessary coherence in peace issues among relevant institutions.
Heshmatullah Ghafouri, Deputy Minister of Irrigation and Natural Resources of the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock, spoke about the ministry's work towards peace and said that the involvement of councils and associations in the peace process is important.
Dr. Abdul Karim Totakhail, Deputy Minister for Government Affairs Cohesion at the Administrative Office of President, spoke about establishing the committee's working procedure.
Sayed Sadat Mansoor Naderi expressed his gratitude to the participants of the meeting and said that the working procedure of the committee will be worked on and will be finalized in the next meetings after consulting the members of the committee. He also said that the State Ministry for Peace would sign a memorandum of cooperation with member institutions if members agree.
The Senior Coordination Committee on Peace Affairs was established to coordinate decision-making on various aspects of the peace process by decree of President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, and the State Ministry for Peace is responsible for the secretariat of this committee.