On November 24, President Hamid Karzai met with a number of community elders from across the country in the Presidential Palace.

At the meeting, on behalf of the participants, Sayed Mahmood Waez, read the resolution which was approved by more than 180 elders and scholars from 34 provinces after a two-day working session in Kabul.

The resolution reads:

We the elders of Afghanistan,

-  Are for  observance of  principles of Islam and  a peaceful life in Afghanistan;

-  confirm and support any decision of our elected government which is  based on Islamic Sharia and our national interests;

-  support the Peace Jirgas and consider them a positive measure;

-  want  stability and national unity in our country;

-  fight for bringing peace and eliminating internal disagreements;

-  ask for  accountability and transparency in the government system, fight against corruption and want  merit-based employment;

-  want regular and systematic contact between members of the Parliament, and Provincial Councils and their constituencies;

- support all the countries, institutions and individuals who assist Afghanistan towards improving its economy and people’s living conditions, provided such assistance does not contradict our national interests;

- consider fighting against cultivation, production and abuse of narcotics and intoxicants as our Islamic duty;

- invite and encourage people to performing voluntary social services;

- fight against linguistic,  ethnic, and regional disagreements;

- invite people to support and strengthen  their Islamic State further;

- fight against forced marriages of young girls and widows;

- are for  educational  progress and development and fight against illiteracy; and

- condemn violence against women and the vulnerable groups and stand against  anything that contradicts  our Islamic culture;

Applauding contents of the Resolution, President Karzai said, “I agree with all the articles of the resolution.”

The President informed the participants about the need and preparation for the Peace Jirgas and hoped that the Jirgas would assist towards peace and stability of Afghanistan and the region.

Appreciating the two day efforts carried out by the elders on national unity, the president said, “The basis of Afghanistan victory throughout its ancient history lies on its people’s national unity which has also been instrumental in preserving its independence.”

The President reminded the gathering that whoever is for a united Afghanistan and its national unity is a true friend of Afghanistan, but one who  raises his/her voice on behalf of a specific tribe is the very enemy of that tribe and of the entire nation.

The President explained that no country in the world has progressed with disunity, but rather has been destroyed by it. The developed, progressed and strong nations you see in the world all have reached there with national unity.