ISLAMABAD: There would be no Fatwa against Afghan Taliban struggle againstforeign invasion in Afghanistan.
The visit of representatives of Afghan Taliban to Indonesia has forced thegovernment to change the agenda of a trilateral conference of religiousscholars to be held on May 11 (Friday) in Jakarta, two Taliban leadersconfirmed to Daily Times on Thursday.
Indonesia had invited Taliban representatives in March after they urgedscholars from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Indonesia to boycott theconference, rejecting it as an “intelligence ploy” by foreign invaders “asthey have faced defeat on the battlefield.”
The Taliban’s strong opposition led to the postponement of the meeting inMarch and later the organisers also changed the agenda and assured theTaliban that no “fatwa” or religious edit will be issued about Afghanistanand only a joint statement will be released at the conclusion, a Talibanleader, privy to the visit and the understanding between the Taliban andIndonesian organisers, said.
“I can confirm that the Taliban visited Jakarta for talks. The visit wasaimed at ensuring that no ‘fatwa’ is issued, and no speech is deliveredagainst the jihad,” the Taliban source said.
Meanwhile, a 15-member delegation of Pakistani scholars has arrived inJakarta to join their Afghan and Indonesian counterparts to explore waysfor Afghan peace and reconciliation, a Pakistani delegate told Daily Timesin a phone call on Thursday.
The participant, requesting not to be identified, complained that theorganisers had not shared the agenda and the proposed joint statement withthe Pakistani delegates until Thursday evening despite requests bydelegates.
The Indonesian authorities had changed Afghan-specific theme of theconference to “Muslim Ummah — Peace and Harmony,” even removingAfghanistan’s mention in the title.
The Afghan government has long been lobbying for a “fatwa” on the war inAfghanistan; but has not yet succeeded as Pakistani scholars want Afghanclerics to call for the withdrawal of the US-led forces that they believeare the main cause of war in Afghanistan. Kabul was also annoyed at aPakistani “fatwa” as Afghan leaders said it was only limited to Pakistan.
Indonesian ambassador to Pakistan Iwan Suyudhie Amri said that theconference is aimed at promoting peace in Afghanistan.
“We know it is a complex issue. For Indonesia, we just would like to seepeace so as to embark on development both in Pakistan and Afghanistan,”ambassador Amri told Daily Times in a text message.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid declined to comment on the conference,saying that the militia had already explained its position in a statementreleased in March.