What Abdullah, Ghani plan to achieve peace?

KABUL, presidential candidate Dr. Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai stresses the need for unity in government’s stance against insurgents.

While his rival Abdullah’s electoral team emphasises on political efforts at achieving peace and a need for good governance and national consensus for trust building and reforms in government entities.

Dr. Ghani’s Change and Continuity team believes intellectual capacities are needed for a sustainable peace as well as a mechanism that changes peace from just a demand into a reality within the form of specific and legal foundations

 “We will talk to the opponents from the address of a strong legitimate political system,” according to Ghani’s manifesto.

His policy outlines seven key issues to achieve future stability in Afghanistan. These include the establishment of political stability, lasting peace, security, good governance, rule of law, and reforms in legal and judicial institutions.

Security and lasting peace is the second most desired goal that Dr. Ghani believes is important to be achieved for the country after acheiving political stability, which he has included in his programmes.

He says his government will contact the rebels through a legitimate political system and national consensus that could meet regional and international standards.

He continues, “Based on this process, the past and future problems should be considered within the Constitutional framework in order to achieve peace based on national consensus.”   

He says ignoring the opinion and recommendations of those involved in the process could put at risk efforts at achieving lasting peace and stability. “In this regard, we want to act through a particular political mechanism.” “We’ll ask all our opponents to chart out their political demands clearly.”

Ghani says there is third factor giving an edge to the government opponents and provoking them against the legitimate system. He continues peace promises remain hollow slogans and nothing significant has been done in practical.

While outlining external aspects behind the insurgency, he says there is a need to know how much the government opponents are independent in their actions and thinking.

 “We need to know the level of external factors fueling insurgency in the country. We have to make it clear whether the opponents are able to engage in an Afghan-led peace process.”  

He said the role of insurgents’ external allies is also an important issue, which should be considered in efforts at achieving peace and stability.

All type of peace negotiations and agreement with militants should be translated into a transparent and clear framework, said Dr. Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai.

The peace mechanism of Dr. Ghani is based on five principles such as the recognition of the government, the Constitution, government forces, national consensus and political system.

Peace and stability in Abdullah’s words   

The team led by Dr. Abdullah believes besides political efforts, good governance, reforms and trust building measures can help achieve lasting peace and stability.

His team believes political peace is not the resolution, but the beginning of solving the conflict

  Though the team has made pledges to bring peace through political means, but it did mention entering peace talks with the armed opponents.

In order to achieve lasting peace, Abdullah’s team mostly emphasises on good governance, poverty alleviation, end to corruption and strengthening security forces.

“We will make efforts to strengthen national security, rule of law, introduce good governance, ensure transparency, form an accountable government, delivery good services to the masses, maintain equality, and make peace through comprehensive strategy.”

The team has criticised the incumbent government, saying it has failed to translate the goal of national security into reality over the past decade and it has no a specific program about this important issue.   

National consensus, rule of law, doing away with poverty, bringing transparency in economic affairs, working for cultural and political development and the capacity building of defence sector are the issues Dr. Abdullah has mentioned in his future agenda for a stable Afghanistan.

In an interview with Pajhwok Afghan News Dr Abdullah had accused President Hamid Karzai government of lacking a specific program about stability and peace in the country.

mrh

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