Opening Remarks 

By Omar Zakhilwal 

Institute for Afghan Studies

Afghanistan of Tomorrow Conference

Ottawa, November 22 and 23, 2001 

It is a distinct honour for me to deliver the opening remarks for the conference: Afghanistan of Tomorrow, Realistic Prospects for a Lasting Peace to so many Afghan and non-Afghan scholars, intellectuals, community leaders, honourable and distinguished personalities from the Government of Canada and other personalities of prominence and distinction 

Afghanistan has been in turmoil, chaos and miseries for over two decades now. However, it was not until the awfully tragic events of the September 11, 2001, that it attracted such an overwhelming attention of the international community. Unfortunately, not for the right reasons.  

It has been suspected that the criminals who carried out the most heinous act of terror on the US soil were the ones hiding and training in Afghanistan, thus bringing to reality the bitter fact that instability in Afghanistan was no longer an internal concern of the Afghans alone but of the world community as well.  

The world community resolutely responded by closing in on Afghanistan with military forces and with the intention to end the suppressing Taliban regime in that country – it seems that the world community has been quite successful in achieving that objective.  

The question that arises now in the minds of many people, particularly Afghans’, is that if the involvement of the international community this time will mean an end to the miseries, oppression, suppression and despair these innocent Afghans have been victims of for so long.

• Will they finally get a government which is in peace with them?
• What sort of a governance scenarios are awaiting them?
• Are there some alternative governance scenarios better than others?
• Are there ones that can restore a lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan?
• How best appropriately can the concerned international community contribute toward desirable alternatives?
• These are some of the broad questions that this conference intends to discuss.

To the conference are invited from different parts of the world nationally and internationally recognised prominent Afghan intellectuals, community leaders, Afghan women leaders and activists and leaders and members of Afghan students and the Afghan youth. 

In the next two days they will present and discuss

• the progress, obstacles and prospects of the on-going efforts in search for peace in Afghanistan;
• achievable governance alternatives within the context of the Afghan culture and history for governance in Afghanistan
• specific recommendations on how the international community in general and Canada in particular can help the Afghans toward a desirable end.
• How can Canada be in the forefront of the international community in fomenting a dialogue between diverse Afghan groups for achieving a just and lasting peace and forming a government that reflects the desires and wishes of the majority of the Afghan populace.
• In what specific ways can the Canadian Government help in the strengthening of the civil society, the achieving of good governance in Afghanistan and in the reconstruction of that devastated country.

Many are of the belief and conviction that Afghans themselves have the best source of information and solutions for the numerous problems facing Afghanistan today – all that is needed then is to provide an opportunity for them to come together, express themselves, and be an active part to the ongoing efforts for restoring peace and stability in their devastated country.  

By helping us with this conference the Government of Canada, particularly the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, has done just that. I, therefore, on behalf of all Afghans am very grateful for that.  

The fact that hundreds and hundreds of Afghans from across Canada, the US and Europe contacted me, South Asia Partnership and the Department of Foreign Affairs to be part of this conference is testament to the fact that this is deemed as a very significant and important event by the Afghans.  

Unfortunately, for obvious logistic reasons we could not accommodate all those who expressed their utmost desire to be here with us today. We understand their disappointment but let this not be our first and last event.  

We should reach and listen to those who could not be here with us today. They for sure will have different and diverse opinions, ideas and proposal about the complex and multi-demintional crisis of Afghanistan but they all have one common desire and one dream in common: a lasting peace in their native homeland.  

I therefore dedicate all my efforts that I have contributed toward putting together this conference over the past many weeks to a lasting peace in Afghanistan.  

Thank you.