Conference of religious scholars in March

KABUL (PAN): A conference involving 500 religious scholars from Afghanistan and Pakistan would be held in Kabul in March, an official said on Tuesday.

High Peace Council (HPC) Secretary Aminuddin Muzaffari told a news conference an eight-member delegation of Afghan scholars and council members, led by Maulvi Qayamuddin Kashaf, had returned from a two-day visit to Pakistan.

He said the two sides had agreed on discussing a number of issues at their first meeting, to be attended by nearly 250 scholars from each side. The participants will also confer on stability across the Muslim world.

Muzaffari added: “Participants of the conference will take a decision (on suicide attacks) in light of Islamic teachings.” Working groups from both countries will meet in coming weeks.

According to reports, Pakistan’s Ulema Council head Maulana Tahir Ashrafi on Monday expressed opposition to the Kabul meeting. He called the ongoing war in Afghanistan a jihad against foreign occupation, but rejected the killing of Pakistan citizens by rebels.

Another Pakistani scholar, Maulana Abu Huraira, told Pajhwok Afghan News they had held productive talks with the Afghani side.

In response to a question, Muzaffari said if participants of the meeting agreed, they would hold a conference of scholars from all Muslim countries.

mm/mud