Inaugural Summit Statement of the Youth Contact Group for Peace

Ending the war and achieving lasting peace and stability is the aspiration of all layers of Afghanistan’s people. The Afghanistan’s people, especially New Generation and Youths have been suffering the most from consequences of the war. We, the youths and new generation support the country-wide peace, and even the peace which leads to prevention of shedding a single human’s blood. We are concerned that the peace process does not lead to the beginning of a new phase of war. The youths and new generation of Afghanistan are worried about the dubious efforts to marginalize and twirl the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan’s system. At the same time, the youths and new generation are seriously concerned about their lack of meaningful presence in the peace process.

 

The Afghanistan’s Youths and New Generation Concerns and the Circumstance of Establishing the Youth Contact Group for Peace

The Afghanistan’s Peace Process have got national, regional and international dimensions. Therefore, the new generation of Afghanistan supports the negotiation between United States of America and Taliban. However, these negotiations are effective and satisfactory, when the Afghanistan Government and system which are the main representative of people, are directly involved. On the other hand, the Government, the Islamic Movement of Taliban, Countries of the Region and World, especially the US, as well as other internal factions are involved in the peace process of Afghanistan. But the Youths and New Generation of Afghanistan are worried about the twirl of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan System, marginalizing youths, ignoring the new generation and youths as one of the current and future influential sides on political destiny of Afghanistan, and some possible negative and unfortunate consequences of peace process. To solve these concerns, active presence in the process and negotiate with involved sides in the peace process, as well as strengthening the role and position of the youths and new generation in this process, the Contact Group for Peace established by some of the new generations’ activists and number of active youths – oriented institutions as the specific address which can defense and represent the rights of the Afghanistan new generation and youths in peace talks and process.

The main objectives of the Contact Group for Peace are as follow:

Talking with leadership and high ranking officials of Government of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, International Community, and Political Office of Islamic Movement of Taliban, for the purpose of strengthening the role, position and defense from meaningful engagement and presence of the youths and new generation of Afghanistan, including men and women in important national decision makings for current and future of Afghanistan, especially reconciliation process and supporting of peace, negotiating with Islamic Movement of Taliban, as well as strengthening the convergence of the new generation for ensuring lasting last stability and country wide peace in Afghanistan. 

The demands of the Youth Contact for Peace in the Peace Process:

1.    Establishing a ceasefire and supporting the Intra-Afghan talks without any condition.

2.    Neither side should think of winning over the other. We call on the Afghanistan Government, Islamic Movement of Taliban, and United States of America and their allies to end this war through dialogue and agreement.

3.    Demonstrating the nation will through holding an inclusive Loya Jirga for the purpose of legitimizing the peace agreements on national level. Also, holding an International Conference in one of the friends and impartial country to guarantee the peace agreements on international level.

4.    The meaningful presence of the new generation and youths as an influential side in peace talks, political agreements and post-peace processes.

5.    Maintaining the democratic prosses and gaining political power through elections in peace talks and agreements.

6.    Republican system, supporting the constitution and amending it by inclusive Loya Jirga which is based on will and vote of Afghanistan’s people, or holding referendum.

7.    Preserving the basic rights and duties of Afghanistan’s citizens.  

8.    Preserving of the women’s basic rights and freedoms (Right to education, work, active engagement in civil, social, economic, cultural, military and political fields) in peace talks and agreements.

9.    Maintaining freedom of expression, media and press, and access to information within framework of law.

10.  Maintaining, strengthening, and depoliticizing the Afghanistan’s security and defense forces (National Army, National Police and National Security).

11.  The responsible withdrawal of foreign forces from the country, and continuation of cooperations, friendly and strategic relations with United States of America, International Community, and International Institutions based on definition of new agreements with the approval of Inclusive Loya Jirga.

12.  Maintaining, continuing, planning and developing friendly cooperations with Islamic Countries, Countries of the Region, especially China, Russia and Neighbors based on national interest of sides.

13.  Issuance of Resolution by United Nation Security Council for the purpose of supporting the meaningful presence of women, new generation and youths of Afghanistan in the peace process, negotiations and post-talks political agreements.

14.  Referring to the votes and will of the nation in major and decisive issues of the country.

15.  If there is no agreement on the nature of current government, moving toward the third solution, amending the constitution which is based on the votes and will of Afghanistan’s people.

Finally, a group youths, civil and political institutions, representing the new generation of Afghanistan, officially announce the Youth Contact Group for Peace, and declare that from our views, continuation and escalation of war is not the solution at all. This big problem should be solved through Intra-Afghan talks and negotiations in which the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan should not be twirled. Neither side should think of surrendering to the other.  We reject any escalation of violence, bloodshed and destruction of the homeland.

 

Best Regards

 

The Youth Contact Group for Peace

August 22, 2019

Kabul – Afghanistan