Multi-ethnic Afghan govt stressed

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Former ambassador Rustam Shah Mohmand on Saturday said that the positive role of regional countries and a multi-ethnic democratic government was the key to ending conflict and bringing about peace in Afghanistan.Addressing a workshop titled “Peace and conflict resolution in the 21st century” held under the aegis of the Staff Training Institute of the University of Peshawar, he said the presence of the coalition forces was the biggest cause of conflict in Afghanistan and until their withdrawal peace would remain an elusive dream.
The chief guest at the closing ceremony was Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Dr Naeemur Rehman Khattak while Registrar, University of Peshawar, Dr Syed Fazl Hadi, Director Staff Training Institute Dr Johar Ali and others were present on the occasion.“The US and its allies have spent 57 billion dollars on the socioeconomic development in Afghanistan but little can be seen on the ground,” he said.
He said the unemployment stood at 35 per cent while intense insurgency prevailed in 24 provinces affecting almost 70 per cent of the population in Afghanistan.
The former ambassador said the US arrogance and hegemonic policies had made life miserable for ordinary Afghans. “America lost 58,000 soldiers in Vietnam and 1,900 in Afghanistan, but it has not learnt from its past experience. It seems unlikely that the US will withdraw from Afghanistan even in the coming 10 years,” Rustam Shah Mohmand said.