Afghan political leaders Saturday attended the first meeting of the High Council for National Reconciliation but some political figures including Hizb-e-Islami leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, Salahuddin Rabbani, the head of Jamiat-e-Islami party and Marshal Abdul Rashid Dostum did not participate at the event over certain reasons. 

Rahmatullah Nabil, former head of the National Directorate of Security and Sayed Eshaq Gailani, head of the National Solidarity Movement of Afghanistan, said they remained out of the meeting due to the opposition by President Ghani. 

Politicians have said the presence of Afghanistan’s influential political leaders has a great significance for ensuring inclusivity and effectiveness in the peace process.   

“The meeting could have been more complete. There are other personalities in our country who have contributed to peace. They have got their own analytical analysis of peace and have a public prestige. They have the ability to represent, so we hope that they are also invited,” former president Hamid Karzai said at the reconciliation council’s meeting on Saturday. 

“Everyone has given sacrifices according to their numbers and capacity and tomorrow they will tolerate those sacrifices; therefore, it would be pretty good to have representation from Jamiat party and other parties of the country in the decision-making process of the reconciliation council,” said Atta Mohammad Noor, the CEO of Jamiat-e-Islami.  

 Critics said there is a need for tolerance among Afghan politicians. 

 “If he (Ghani) cannot accept us, certainly, he will not tolerate Mullah Hibatullah and Mullah Barada. Now it is clear to us that the main obstacle for peace is the government,” Gailani said.  

“The differences that the president has got with some people is rooted in their political differences. So these differences should not be taken as a personal issue as it can damage the peace process,” said Rafiullah Bedar, a political analyst.  

The attendants of the meeting stressed the need for unity and consensus among political leaders to move the peace efforts forward. 

Addressing the meeting, President Ghani said the requirement is clear and that it is an agreement on the roadmap for peace. 

He said the peace negotiations have entered the second phase in which there is a need for more consultations. 

“The peace negotiations have reached the second phase. The first phase showed that the task was not easy, but it succeeded,” Ghani said.  

Abdullah Abdullah, who leads the council, stressed the need for consensus around peace and said it needed more than ever. 

He said the leadership committee of the council represents all segments of the society and the diversity of the Islamic Republic.