Afghan minorities feel excluded from peace process
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Seventy-nine per cent of minorities in Afghanistan do not see themselves represented in the on going peace process, a latest survey by a human right's organization has revealed.
The survey titled “the Vulnerable Minorities and the Peace Process" was compiled by the Moasesae Hoqooq-e-Bashar wa Mahwe Khoshonat (a "human rights and elimination of violence organization"), it involved the random participation of 595 individuals from various minority communities, it was carried out in the provinces of Bamiyan, Badakhshan, Balkh, Ghor, Kabul, Nangarhar, Nuristan, Nimroz and Jawzjan.
Surveyed individuals belonged to the following communities: AImaq, Qezeslbash, Pashaee, Turkmen, Baloch, Barahawi, Arab, Sadat, Nuristani, Wakhi, Kyrgyz, Gujar, Ismaili, Sikhs and Hindus.
Tolonews agency reported that in response to a question about whether or not minority groups in Afghanistan have a role in the peace process, 17.7 percent said yes, 79.1 percent said no, 2 percent had no comments and 1.2 percent had no response.
“The government has the obligation to defend the rights of minorities and the people of Afghanistan, whether they are one, two or ten persons,” said Sima Samar, the State Minister for Human Rights Affairs.
Mohammad Hasan Aimaq, a tribal elder from the Aimaq ethnic group, said the government has not paid attention to the role of vulnerable ministries in Afghanistan.
Afghanistan's Second Vice President Sarwar Danesh admitted that Afghanistan faces challenges in ensuring human rights.
“Minorities and women are two main issues for the Afghan government when it comes to peace, and are non-negotiable. We don’t want to return to the dark past,” Danesh said.
The European Union and human rights organizations have also urged that lasting peace in Afghanistan will not be possible without the participation of minorities and without ensuring their rights.
