Resolution

European Conference “ISIS in Afghanistan”

A glance to threats, discussing the future perspectives & remedies

12/12/2015

On December the 12th 2015, representatives of more than a hundred and twenty cultural, social and political organizations from Afghanistan, Germany, Holland, UK, France, Spain, Sweden, Denmark and Austria, gathered in an European conference of Afghan diaspora about “ISIS in Afghanistan”. The conference was held in ‘Kabul Conference Centre’, Hoofddorp, The Netherlands. Conference was inaugurated by FAROE's chairperson Mrs. Najla Wassie’s opening speech. Mrs. Wassie observed a one-minute silence to mourn the death of thousands of civilians in the course of war in Afghanistan, in the year 2015. FAROE's head said: by organizing this conference, we want to give the representatives of Afghan diaspora in Europe an opportunity to discuss threats, the ISIS can cause for Afghan nation and formulate together recommendations for the people of Afghanistan and all national and international players, engaged in rebuilding Afghanistan in the past one and half decade.  

The conference discussed the developments since June 2014, the calculated moment for Pakistani military, to ‘flash out’ to Afghanistan many foreign and local terrorist groups founded, trained and bolded in Pakistan, with Zarb-e-Azb operation in North Waziristan.  Only after the withdrawal of much of foreign troops from Afghanistan could such a ‘flash out’ to the north, east and south Afghanistan, deliver Pakistan the strategic upper hand, the Pakistani military waited many years for. Using the brand of ISIS by IMU (Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan) and ETIM (East Turkistan’s Islamic Movement) groups serves the strategic interests of Pakistan. Because Pakistan can pretend, not to be involved in the terrorist acts of these groups in third countries. However, IMU and ETIM receive also manpower and financial support from Islamists groups in respectively Central Asian countries and China.

The international pressure on ISIS, mounted after the Paris attacks on ISIS, including the entrance of Russia in Syrian war, could cause the shift of the power-base of ISIS from Iraq and Syria to Libya or Afghanistan. This will mean another multiparty proxy war in Afghanistan. Participants of the conference believe the people of Afghanistan are too tired of being the battlefield for the interests of regional and global super-powers in the past 4 decades and cannot afford to see their houses and children again bombed because of ISIS presence in their country. Therefore the participants seek active elimination of ISIS groups holding local people hostage in different districts of Afghanistan. Watching passively to ISIS presence and recruiting activities will mean giving save harbors to the enemies of our people and the enemies of our neighboring counties. Despite the fact that ISIS and it’s ideology is alien for Afghans, there is still a possibility for ISIS, as well as the Taliban, to try to get engaged with the local people by marriages or taking the advantage of Islamist mentality spread by thousands of madrassa’s funded with foreign money in the past 14 years. Weakness of local and central government and hatred among local people against local warlords allied with the government, could also give ISIS the opportunity to grow stronger in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan is a multi-ethnic society, comprised of the followers of many religious believes and rich with cultural diversity, have been able to remain united during its 5000 years history. The brutal acts of the ISIS such as abduction and beheading of persons belonging to a certain ethnic group, has seen as an attempt by ISIS to create division among ethnic groups in Afghanistan. Reaction of the people of Afghanistan to this provocation was a united and angry demonstration by tens of thousands of Afghans, belonging to all ethnic groups, in the streets of Kabul city condemning ISIS and protesting against inaction of the government to stop the severe crimes committed by “Islamic Sate” (ISIS).

Having in mind the cheap and inhuman actions of ISIS against women in area’s under their control in Iraq and Syria and using them as sex slaves, speakers and participants of the conference expressed their concerns about the safety and human dignity of Afghan women, if the Afghan government and International community remain inactive against ISIS in Afghanistan.

Experience of countries such as Syria and Iraq makes evident that ISIS destroys the cultural heritage of occupied areas by destroying the archeological sites, monuments and smuggling of invaluable art crafts of historical significance. This is what the Taliban did in 2001 in Bamian and Kabul museum. Participants warned the people of Afghanistan to make sure to do every thing necessary to prevent any future destruction of the facets of its cultural heritage, wither by ISIS or by the Taliban.

It should be made clear that Afghanistan is not situated in an unknown planet. The country has been engaged since a couple of years in lawful multilateral and bilateral relations and has signed binding security agreements with some powerful countries.

Participants and speakers debated the current situation, the possible consequences of the passive position of the government of Afghanistan and inaction by international community towards ISIS in Afghanistan. They discussed the consequences of this situation for the political stability, security, women rights and the cultural heritage of Afghanistan. Exploring these discussions, drafted the committee authorized to prepare the resolution, the concept of this resolution and it’s following nine recommendations, approved with overwhelming majority:

1-      The government of Afghanistan should protect its borders and prevent, as the provisions of the Constitution dictates, incursion of the terrorist groups, such as ISIS and the Taliban to its territory. 

2-      Empowerment of local civil and military institutions and establishment of mobile auxiliary military units within a reasonable distance from vulnerable villages.

3-      Job creation and application of meaningful projects for eradication of poverty in rural and urban areas will limit the recruiting opportunities for terrorist groups including ISIS.

4-      In territories under the control of ISIS, women and girls are the first and foremost target of the terrible rules over sexual slavery of girls and women. Hopefully our sisters in Afghanistan prepare themselves to struggle together with their husbands or brothers against the evil forces of ISIS.

5-      Democratic and patriot political forces should take necessary steps to give the people awareness about ISIS provocative actions, aimed to create distrust among ethnic groups lived together for thousand of years in Afghanistan.

6-      Participants demand the immediate destruction of the military power structure and cutting financial resources the ISIS use for occupying more territories and recruiting local Afghans. This can be done by a firm political will and well-planned military operations and diplomatic efforts.

7-      Historical monuments are the cultural heritage of the people of Afghanistan. People have the right to demand security measures by the government to make sure their rich cultural heritage will remain save.

8-      On the basis of several UN security council counter-terrorism resolutions, namely UNSC resolution 1373, participants asked for immediate and strong international political and economic pressure on Pakistan to stop exporting terror groups such as ISIS, the Taliban etc. to Afghanistan.

9-      Afghan government, as partner to many bilateral security agreements with some powerful states, is entitled to get the necessary assistance for its security forces and ask the parties to those agreements to engage in meaningful diplomatic steps against Pakistan and all supporters of enemies of Afghanistan, to ensure security for the people of Afghanistan.

 

Hoofddorp, The Netherlands, 12^th December 2015

 

 

 

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