Challenges

The protracted armed conflict in Afghanistan, which has spanned almost four decades, creates political and societal instability. The Government and various elements of society seek to overcome this ongoing challenge. As a result, peacebuilding and reconciliation efforts in Afghanistan have become a major concern for the international community. Successful experiences in conflict resolution must be shared to enable the Government of Afghanistan to formulate its own peacebuilding and reconciliation strategy.

Toward a Solution

Peace and reconciliation efforts in Afghanistan are complex and require support from the international community. Indonesia has committed to supporting this noble endeavour through several means, including by providing political support and capacity-building. The Government convened a capacity-building programme entitled ‘Capacity-Building for Afghan Diplomats: Indonesia and Peacebuilding through the Promotion of Tolerance, Pluralism and Democracy—Experiences and Lesson Learned’. The program was also part of Indonesia’s commitment as UN Security Council’s Non-Permanent Member for 2019-2020, and as well as the means to strengthen South-South cooperation framework.

This programme was convened for 10?diplomats from Afghanistan from 16?to?23?July?2019 in Jakarta and Ambon, Indonesia. The joint effort was organized by the Directorate of Technical Cooperation, the Centre for Education and Training, and the Directorate General of Multilateral Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia. During the programme, Afghan diplomats learned strategies to resolve conflicts over severe differences, promote tolerance and live in peace and harmony. Indonesia could serve as a model for peacebuilding among heterogeneous communities.

During the opening ceremony of the programme, the head of the Centre for Education and Training underscored its significance in strengthening bilateral cooperation between Indonesia and Afghanistan. He reiterated that the programme was evidence of his Government’s commitment to fully support peace in Afghanistan within the framework of South-South cooperation by enhancing the peacebuilding capacities of diplomats.

During their stay in Indonesia, the Afghan diplomats received classroom training in the Pancasila ideology, tolerance, pluralism in society, Islam and democracy in Indonesia. They were also briefed on the country’s experiences in peacebuilding diplomacy. In order to explore conflict resolution and the atmosphere of religious tolerance in Indonesia, participants were invited to visit the Istiqlal Mosque and the Jakarta Cathedral and to observe daily life in Ambon. The city was chosen as an example of the peaceful resolution of conflicts between religious communities.

During a visit to Ambon, participants were informed that the core of conflict resolution involved not only central and regional governments and security forces, but also the aspirations of grass-roots communities, especially youth and women. They learned about the tradition of Pela Gandong, a designation given to two or more countries or villages that have a fraternal relationship or alliance, which is an ancestral custom of the Moluccans and plays an important role in unifying society.

The goal of the training was to increase the capacity of Afghan diplomats to foster peace in their country as they applied the knowledge gained in Indonesia. In addition, bilateral relations between the countries were expected to grow.

Several days after the training, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan and the Special Envoy of the Indonesian Foreign Ministry to Afghanistan met to discuss bilateral relations between the two countries, including the possibility of a follow-up training on conflict resolution and potential cooperation on interfaith dialogue and women’s empowerment.

On 23?December?2019, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia also hosted a two-day dialogue, attended by dozens of Afghan women and led by the Acting Minister of Information and Culture of Afghanistan, to discuss the establishment of an Afghanistan-Indonesia Women Solidarity Network that would focus on empowering women in peacebuilding efforts in Afghanistan. The Network was officially launched on 1?March?2020, in Kabul, Afghanistan during an official visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia.

This initiative contributed to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal?16, as the training programme encouraged participants to embrace peaceful means to attain sustainable, inclusive and just institutions at all levels of society in Afghanistan.