Youth Symposium for Peace and Tolerance | Paktia
The Youth Symposium for Peace and Tolerance was organized by the Afghanistan Economic and Legal Studies Organization on the neighboring countries’ role in ensuring the values of democracy and tolerance and Their Influence on the Afghan Peace Process, in collaboration with the other leading national and international think tanks in Paktia.
Youth, university lecturers, students, civil and human rights activists, and cultural and social activists from Paktia province were participated in the symposium.
At the beginning, the moderator of the program welcomed the participants and guests at the Youth Symposium for Peace and Tolerance and Mr. Abdul Ghafoor Saleh, the Provincial Representative of the Afghanistan Economic and Legal Studies Organization, officially inaugurated the symposium and introduced the Afghanistan Economic and Legal Studies Organization to the participants.
Then, Aminullah Amin Zazi called the role of neighboring countries in the peace process and the dissemination of democratic values, tolerance, and the fight against extremism is important for Afghanistan and said: “Afghanistan’s peace process is at an important stage which decisions in these stages will determine the next destiny of our society. In these decisions, in addition to the internal parties, Afghanistan’s neighbors also play a major role.”
He added: “Pakistan, as one of our closest neighbors which has the longest border with the country can play a greater and more prominent role in this regard, and if they acts honestly in this process; undoubtedly, would lead to positive effects.”
He continued: “There are common cultural and religious points between us and Iran as one of our other closest neighbor, which cannot be ignored; therefore, Iran also has an important role in this process and is expected to act honestly as our neighbor and play his role in a positive and effective way.”
Habibullah Mostaan, a university lecturer and one of the other speakers at the symposium, spoke about China’s role in mutual acceptance and the Afghan peace process and added: “The existence of peace in Afghanistan will affect how China’s economy grows. Undoubtedly, China must also do well in this process and play its role honestly and properly.”
In the next part of the program, which was the inquiries (Q&A) part, the experts and speakers of the Youth Symposium for Peace and Tolerance answered the participants’ questions about the positive and negative role of neighboring countries in the Afghan peace process and ensuring the values of a free society in the country.
After the expert panel part of the symposium, the group work was done and representatives of the groups presented their views and perspectives on the causes of extremism in Afghan universities and society, strategies to combat it, promote Tolerance and its role in ensuring peace in Afghanistan.
Finally, the Youth Symposium for Peace and Tolerance ended with the donation of the organization’s books to guests and the distribution of certificates to the participants.
Participants in these programs became the members of the Afghanistan Economic and Legal Studies Organization which with our support, are actively working in their provinces to promote democratic values and pluralism.