UN reaffirms support for Afghan peace plan

KABUL): The United Nations on Tuesday reaffirmed its support for the Afghan Peace and Reintegration Programme (APRP), an Afghan-led initiative, within the context of a broader national reconciliation process.

An APRP implementation conference is scheduled to begin in Kabul on Tuesday, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said in a statement. It said the APRP had an important role in supporting combatants to rejoin their communities across Afghanistan and in addressing local grievances.

“To achieve substantial results, the process must be community-driven, inclusive and equitable,” the mission said, adding the UN experience in conflict countries has shown the need for engagement in efforts to resolve conflict at many levels.

“Given the many challenges and ongoing conflict we should be realistic about what APRP can achieve over the short term. It is one important element of a much broader reconciliation process,” UNAMA’s representative said at the conference.

Through providing social and economic opportunities to reintegrees and their communities, the APRP could promote community recovery, job creation and help to bring stability to conflict-affected communities, the statement said.

The APRP required combined efforts by the Afghan authorities and the international community to ensure that all efforts were aligned and that there were effective vetting procedures and the available resources were not wasted, it said.

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