Daily Times

PESHAWAR: The Afghanistan consulate in Peshawar celebrated Jashan-e-Nowruz, the first day of the Persian New Year 1396 as well as spring in Afghanistan, Iran and some Central Asian states here on Monday, inviting a large number of dignitaries including diplomats, politician, journalists, writers and poets.

Afghan Counsel General in Peshawar, Dr Abdullah Waheed Poyan welcomed all the guests and wished them a happy Nowroz. “Nowroz commemorates with a number of events, including the new Iranian year, the first day of Spring and the first day of new educational year. It’s origins are not exactly known but some accounts say that it came from the Arians and is at least 6,000 years old,” Dr Poyan informed.

He also mentioned that the Nowroz festival is celebrate in Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, Turkmininstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. “The women make a special dish called Samnak and is made of edibles that all have names starting from “S”. Similarly, Haft Seen is another specialty of the festival that is made of seven fruits,” he said.

Afghanistan’ Ambassador to Pakistan Dr Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal, chief guest of the event wished countries celebrating the festival. “I wish a happy Nowroz to all the people around the world who celebrate the festival. I wish that this New Year brings peace to the region, especially Afghanistan and Pakistan,” he said.

Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal also talked about the issues of border closer, saying that both Pakistan and Afghanistan should concentrate on the positive sides that can benefit them in peace and trade. “The reopening of the Torkham border has been announced today by Pakistan. I hope it opens soon and it remains open forever,” the Ambassador said while adding that the people and traders on both sides should not suffer due to the acts of governments.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa senior Minister Sikander Hayat Khan Sherpao said on the occasion that it was the need of the hour that both the neighbors looked at things positively. “Pakistan and Afghanistan are burning due to terrorism. It is time to sit together and make this relationship trade policy instead of strategic policy,” he expressed.

Sikander Sherpao stressed for long-lasting and formalized peace talks between the two countries in order to defeat terrorism and restore peace.

Iranian Counsel General in Peshawar, Muhammad Baqir Beigi expressed that instead of making enmities and spreading hatred, we should work for friendships and peace. “Nowroz has been celebrated in Iran even before the Islam. I pray that this year bring peace and happiness in our region and in the entire world,” he said.

Awami National Party (ANP) central general secretary Mian Iftikhar Hussain opined that the Nowroz festival has religious and cultural importance. “It is the festival in which people forget their enmities and make friendships. This is the time of happiness and celebrations. I wish that this year bring real happiness in our region,” the ANP leader who had lost his only son to terrorism, said.

Mian Iftikhar also stressed that politics and trade should not be mixed up. “Pakistan should encourage trade with Afghanistan as it’s her biggest international market. If we keep closing the border and halt trade, Afghanistan will look for other routes which will result in the loss of our biggest market,” he opined.

School girls presented anthems and songs in Pashto and Dari languages. Pashto poets from Pakistan and Afghanistan read their poetry regarding the festival to more than 200 hundred participants, who were served with the traditional Haft Seen food.