ISLAMABAD: All parties to the Afghan conflict were on Friday urged to join peace talks. Further, the trilateral conference of religious scholars from Afghanistan, Indonesia and Pakistan termed suicide attacks against the principles of Islam. The conference attended by clerics from Afghanistan, Indonesia and Pakistan underway in Bogor, Indonesia, also appreciated and supported the offer of Afghan government, as announced by President Ashraf Ghani during the Kabul Peace Process in February for peace and reconciliation in the war-torn country. A declaration adopted at the day-long conference appreciated regional countries, Islamic world and the international community for expressing their full support for peace in Afghanistan. A copy of the declaration available with Daily Times read, “We take note of conducive environment for peace in Afghanistan and call upon all sides to join direct peace talks, as peaceful deliberation is enshrined in the Holy Qur’an.” The declaration stressed on resolution of all conflicts and disputes among Muslims in the light of Qur’an and Sunnah. “As one family of the Ummah, we support an inclusive peace process and stand ready to contribute constructively to the process, while recognising various efforts and peace offers to find viable solutions for peace in Afghanistan,” the declaration said. The conference reiterated its commitment to help nurturing peace in Afghanistan and the Muslim world. It said that for decades, ‘our brothers and sisters in Afghanistan have suffered from long and arduous trials and tribulations. Despite all hardships, they never lost hope in their struggle for peace. They continue to demonstrate the best quality of human resilience and nobility as a strong nation and faithful Muslims’. It also declared support to Paigham-e-Pakistan, Afghan declarations, and other peace initiatives undertaken by the ulema from across the Islamic world. The declaration said that the ulema of the Islamic Ummah, especially from countries like Indonesia, Afghanistan and Pakistan, having a deeper understanding of the difficult challenges facing the Muslim countries, could play an active role in promoting peace and solidarity in the Muslim world, especially in Afghanistan. The conference reaffirmed that that violence and terrorism cannot and should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilisation, or ethnic group, as violent extremism and terrorism in all its forms and manifestations including violence against civilians and suicide attacks, was against the holy principles of Islam. “We support an inclusive peace process and stand ready to contribute constructively to the process, while recognizing various efforts and peace offers to find viable solutions for peace in Afghanistan,” it said. The conference supported the important role of ulema of Afghanistan, Indonesia, and Pakistan in promoting peace, harmony and brotherhood among the Ummah in the light of Islamic teachings based on Qur’an and Sunnah. “The ulema of the Islamic Ummah, especially from countries like Indonesia, Afghanistan and Pakistan, having a deeper understanding of the difficult challenges facing the Muslim countries, can play an active role in promoting peace and solidarity in the Muslim world, especially in Afghanistan,” the participants said. “We conclude by presenting our highest appreciation to the Government of the Republic of Indonesia for its sincere support to initiate a process of cooperation amongst the ulema of the three countries and the Islamic world” the declaration concluded. Meanwhile, the Taliban insurgents rejected the conference and said that the participants should have condemned the foreign invasion if they were sincere about peaceful resolution of the conflict. “We believe that such meetings will neither weaken the struggle of Afghans against the invading Americans nor will harm its legitimacy in accordance with Sharia,” a Taliban commentary on the Indonesian conference said. A controversy erupted when Afghanistan’s Pajhwok news agency quoted Maulana Anwarul Haq, who was among the 15-member Pakistani delegation, as urging the Taliban to “stop fighting and join peace process.” Haq is the deputy chief of madrassa Haqqani Akora Khattak and a brother of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Sami chief Maulana Samiul Haq. Later in the day, a spokesman for the Haqqania madrassa dismissed the remarks as false and said Anwarul Haq did not talk to the Afghan news agency. Samiul Haq and his religious school has long been publicly supporting the Afghan Taliban’s fight against the foreign forces. Published in Daily Times, May 12th 2018.