My Busy Life: New Opportunities, More Challenges

It is August 28 and I am putting my first, and probably last, APLPers’s blog for my month. This is something I should have done in the first week of August, if not the first day.  Two things made me extremely busy, and probably distracted, to do so.

First, I was given a new role in July with more responsibilities at work, and second I became mainly in charge of planning for the peace and unity week that was initiated by myself last year and takes place from September 20-27 every year.

My new role as deputy chief executive, and member of the peace council where until July this year I worked as political adviser suddenly put me in the middle of heavy workload of things I needed focus on.  I had to do an assessment of where things are in my institution, and come up with some recommendations. I also had to coordinate for putting a business case for countries that fund the peace and re-integration program.  Our funding cycle ends up in December this year.

I initiated the peace and unity week last year. I even took it to the executive committee of the High Peace Council to get it approved. The background for this week goes to September 20, 2011 when an apparent emissary with a peace message assassinated the previous Chair of the High Peace Council, Professor Rabbani who was also former President of the state. 

 Professor Rabbani came from the North of Afghanistan, and the current leadership of the insurgency including the suicide bomber came from the South and a different ethnic group too. The assassination could trigger serious clashes and even internal conflict.

 My purpose to come up with the idea of peace and unity week was to not only counter any inter-ethnic clashes during this week but also use it as an opportunity to bring people together to promote peace.

 Last year, I had to leave by August for Asia Pacific Leadership Program, and was not here in Kabul for the peace week.  But now, my job as deputy head of the policy, and my own interest in this week has made the planning for this week a top item in my work. Amongst several other events, an international conference will also be organized during this week.

This conference aims to bring religious scholars from different parts of the world to talk about the significance of peace in Islam. I hope that this conference will serve to further promote peace in Afghanistan, and encourage those who are fighting to join the peace process. This conference will also be my capstone project for APLP.

I want to specially thank Ahila for this great initiative to facilitate for the G12 APLPers to remain connected with each other through this blog; and sorry for not being an active member. I hope to be able to compensate in the future.