On Monday, the ninth ministerial conference of the Heart of Asia – Istanbul Process (HoA-IP) began in Tajikistan’s capital Dushanbe, in an attempt to end the conflict in Afghanistan by seeking regional consensus regarding the country’s stalled peace process. The summit, which was not held last year due to the coronavirus pandemic, comes just a few days after the Taliban threatened to resume hostilities against foreign troops who fail to withdraw by the May 1 deadline, which was set by the United States (US) and the group in Doha last year.
Leaders from 15 member countries—including Afghanistan, China, India, Iran, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey—are meeting at the conference that aims to promote security as well as economic and political cooperation in Afghanistan. Twelve regional and international organisations are participating in the event as well. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani is expected to attend the meeting on the second day. Afghan Deputy Minister Mirwais Nab underscored the significance of regional and global consensus in supporting the Afghan peace process and said, “Afghanistan’s government and people want lasting peace while preserving the democratic values and achievements of the last twenty years, including freedom of expression, human rights, and women’s rights.”
The HoA-IP, officially launched in Istanbul in 2011, is an initiative by Kabul and Ankara to promote peace in the war-torn nation by providing a platform “for sincere and results-oriented regional cooperation” and placing Afghanistan at its centre. The conference brings countries that have a direct and indirect stake in Afghanistan and enables cooperation through various confidence-building measures.
Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is attending the conference on behalf of New Delhi and tweeted that he had spoken with President Ghani before the commencement of the meeting by sharing “our perspectives on the peace process.” Jaishankar also met with his counterparts from Iran and Turkey on the sidelines of the meet. India has significant military, economic and political stakes in Afghanistan and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has supported a peace process that is “Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan controlled.”
The meeting was also attended by Pakistani Foreign Minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who expressed Islamabad’s continued support for the Afghan peace process. The attendance of both Indian and Pakistani Foreign Ministers at the conference has led to speculation of a possible meeting between the two after Pakistani army chief Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa urged both sides “to bury the past and move on” earlier this month.
Meanwhile, upon arrival to Dushanbe, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that Tehran aims to establish lasting peace and end hostilities in Afghanistan. Zarif also met with his Afghan counterpart Mohammad Hanif Atmar and “reviewed the latest status of Tehran-Kabul collaborations.” Turkey, one of the founding members of the HoA-IP, was represented by Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, who said that Ankara “would continue to support peace and stabilisation efforts for Afghanistan.” The participants are expected to issue a joint statement at the end of the dialogue, which is being held just weeks ahead of a crucial US-backed and UN-led conference to be held in Turkey that will be attended by both the Afghan government and the Taliban.
Heart of Asia Conference on Afghan Peace Process Begins in Dushanbe
The conference is being held just weeks ahead of a crucial US-backed and UN-led conference to be held in Turkey which will be attended by both the Afghan government and the Taliban.
March 30, 2021
Afghan president Ashraf Ghani. SOURCE: MOHAMMAD ISMAIL/REUTERS