PESHAWAR, Oct 12: Chief of the Assembly for Peace and Unity of Afghanistan (APUA), Pir Syed Ahmad Gillani, has said that the Afghan conflict cannot be resolved through war and the international community should let the people of the war-ravaged country decide their destiny.

Speaking at a press conference here at his residence on Thursday, he said he wanted the United Nations Organization and the Organization of Islamic Conference to play a greater role in restoration of peace in Afghanistan. He asked the international organizations to expedite their efforts to help end the conflict and establish a system of governance in the country.

Opposing the US strikes on Afghanistan, the former Jihadi leader said that the irresponsible attitude of the regime in Kabul had forced the foreign forces to take extreme action.

“We believe in peace and have always worked for lasting peace in Afghanistan,” he said.

He said the present regime had no ability to pull the country out of the quagmire.

He expressed hope that the Taliban would realise the severity of the situation and hand power over to an honest and capable leadership.

The APUA leader said that the association would convene a meeting in Peshawar on Oct 21 in which all segments of the Afghan society would be invited. “We will extend invitation to all factions, including former king Zahir Shah, the Northern Alliance, Taliban and all others, to attend this vital meeting,” he said and added that Zahir Shah and some “good Taliban” would accept the invitation.  

“Zahir Shah has to take representatives of all segments of the Afghan society along to succeed in future,” Pir Gillani opined.

Replying to a question, he said he was in contact with other warlords, including Abdur Rab Rasool Sayyaf, Burhanuddin Rabbani and Sibghatullah Mujaddadi. He said representatives of different  factions, including Maulvi Younus Khalis group, Hizb-i-Wahdat and Ulema Shoora of Northern Afghanistan had held meetings with him.

Mr Gillani appealed to the international community to incur all expenditures on setting up a competent and popular system, instead of wasting them on wars, to explore ways for solution of the problems that were now common for the world and Afghans.

Earlier, a meeting was held in Peshawar on Thursday. It was attended by representatives of various warlords, who recently came to Pakistan from Europe and America.