Peace in war-torn Afghanistan vital, says envoy

ALLAHABAD: Ambassador of Afghanistan Shaida Mohammad Abdali on Friday said that his country has paid a heavy price both in terms of human lives and treasures. Hence, ensuring peace in countries like Afghanistan was vital.
Speaking at the two-day international seminar on "Peace Building In A Conflict-ridden World", organised by Rajiv Gandhi Chair in Contemporary Studies of Allahabad University, he said that Afghanistan was indebted to India for its efforts to build peace.
Stating that external states were hell-bent on de-estabilising the country, he hoped that countries of the region would cooperate in creating a peaceful environment in war-torn Afghanistan.
He also underlined the significance of utilizing foreign aid in generating internal human resources, and emphasised on the need of effective designing and implementation of programmes to create an atmosphere of sustainable development.
Delivering her keynote address, Katerina Stenou, director, Inter-Sectoral Platform for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence, BSP, UNESCO, said, "Peace as a process had to be highlighted." "UNESCO quoted Gandhi that there is no root to peace, peace is the root," she recalled stating that India was everywhere; and the treasures of India were the treasures of entire humanity.
Eminent educationist and litterateur Prof M M Das in his inaugural address provided a philosophical canvas to the theme of the seminar by stating that wars begin in human mind and so it was human mind where the defences for peace had to be erected.
In his presidential address, Vice-Chancellor, AU Prof A K Singh said that global peace, security and human welfare were important for all because the fate of mankind was intertwined. Dialogues and peace building measures were required since people cannot live in isolation. The nature of conflict, he felt, varied according to changing circumstances, and suggested that the aim should be to resolve conflict and ensure stability.