The recent charter/resolution ratified by the lower house of the Afghan parliament/Wolesi Jirga, aimed at offering impunity to all parties involved in Afghanistan’s bloody past three decades, has had extensive media coverage. Much of the media coverage, locally and internationally, has been critical of the notion. While there is merit for criticism, it is important to mention that the substance of the notion is at best very raw. The document has to go through the upper house/Mesharno Jirga, and be signed into law by the President.
I believe the mere debate around the hostilities of the past three decades, and the indirect confession that parties involved in those wars shoulder responsibility for the destruction and bloodshed, yet are entitled to forgiveness, is a positive start. I think the resolution will not look as ugly as we feared it can be if a couple of amendments are introduced to it, and a slight change of language happens. And let’s admit, once the Wolesi Jirga sat in session, our biggest nightmare was that the faces of civil war will proclaim themselves—only themselves—immune to legal persecutions. They have actually done better by coming up with a charter that entitles their opponents to what they once regarded as their sole right. It should show, if anything, that there is potential to build on this start, and begin a healing process.
I am offering a humble translation of the text of the resolution. Now check the charter, and I will come back with more later…. ( A Dari version of the Charter is available on
The history of humankind, in the midst of its rise and descents, has witnessed bitter destructive incidents of war and conflicts as people or governments confronted. Afghanistan has been no exception to this rule. Throughout her political history, this land has been subject to violations by the worldly powerful, and this nation has sacrificed man and money to defend this land and river from foreign transgressions.
The people of Afghanistan witnessed two foreign offenses during the past twenty eight years. From the north came the former Soviet Union. From the south we are witnessing a transgression of transnational terrorists. The destruction and bloodshed has lasted more than two decades, and war’s deadly shadow still threatens the communal and individual lives of the people.
Attentive of hardship in the future, the spread of war in parts of the country, and the stretch of distrust between different layers of the current society, more than ever before, our nation is in need of an inclusive design for stability and national compromise. Every war ends with peace, and every comprise can be tailored proportionate to and based on the beliefs, culture and traditions of the particular country.
To reach an assured compromise and an endpoint to war and devastation, Afghanistan’s state and people can profit if inspired by two patterns and roadmaps:
• Considering their Islamic origin, after Mecca’s conquest the prophet’s example of amnesty to all those who had fought Islam and the Muslims;
• Considering their political life and governing system that is acute to third world countries, the pattern of compromise in South Africa and the neighboring Tajikistan based on compromise and forgiveness.
To this date, decrees issued and conventions signed towards the goal of peace and coexistence have been effective on different scales, they include the Decree on Total Amnesty issued by President Sebghatullah Mujadidi during his Interim Government of 1371, the 1380 Bonn Agreement on Reconciliation and Settlement between all political factions , the 1372 decree on Total amnesty for the pleading elements of the Taliban, President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai’s 1384 decree on the establishment of Commission for Peace and Islamic Brotherhood. However, in order to solidify peace and stability in the country, and in order to assure all parties involved of their safety in the event of their compliance with the constitution and laws current in the country, lawful and transparent steps need to be taken. The basis for distrust needs to be uprooted, and all people, political and ideological factions, be mobilized towards strengthening peace and stability.
As per the efforts of the Muslim nation of Afghanistan, the three main pillars of the state, the Legislative, Judicial and Executive are now in place. Towards the settlement of peace and stability, safeguarding greater national interests of the country, ending past and current enmities, and offering an inclusive solution that encompasses all sides which can be a realistic answer to the serious needs of our Islamic country, the National Assembly/Shurai-Mili ratifies the following articles as the Charter for Compromise and Coexistence between all the residents of this land:
1. The Jihad, Resistance and just struggles of our people represent glittering summits of our country’s history. They are considered as the outstanding national prides of our people. They ought to be revered. Those involved be appreciated. They should be treated suitably within the framework of the Islamic Republic, and be safeguarded against any harassments.
2. Every political faction, or sides engaged in conflicts with each other one way or the other during the past two and a half decades, are included in the national reconciliation and amnesty program; and they are immune to judicial or legal prosecutions, for the purpose of reconciliation between different layers of the society, strengthening peace and stability, and a new beginning in contemporary political life of the country.
3. The invalid reports by Human Rights Watch, in regards to the Jihadi leaders and national personalities of the country, are derived from dubious intentions, and the National Assembly proclaims them void.
4. All people involved in armed opposition to the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, upon their merge with the national reconciliation process and their respect for the constitution and laws current in the country, are entitled to the merits and benefits of Article II of this charter.
5. This charter entails no exception to any group or political course.
6. Forming a high level commission by the Wolesi Jirga is called for to pave the grounds for the opposition’s merge with the strengthening stability and national compromise process. This in order to assist in ending violence and distrust between the government and the armed opponents of the government, and in order for strengthening compromise and stability.
7. Upon the establishment of the National Assembly, all international laws and conventions have been compared with the national constitution, and the people and government of Afghanistan are obliged to obey only the laws that get ratified by the National Assembly.
8. Afghanistan’s Wolesi Jirga calls on all armed opponents of the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to join the strengthening stability and national comprise process in order for strengthening peace and stability and bringing and end to wars.
9. Afghanistan’s Wolesi Jirga does not consider mining or fencing along the Durand line as a suitable way of combating and controlling terrorism. Terrorism must be controlled and combated in its training, equipping and financing centers.
10. Wolesi Jirga, stressing independence and territorial integrity of Afghanistan, sees cordial relations with neighboring countries as one of its priorities and earnestly seeks to realize it.
11. Mass media should be attentive of the substance of the Charter for National Compromise, and they shall strive for strengthening peace and national reconciliation.
12. The Charter on National Compromise and Reconciliation is ratified in eleven articles and proclaimed effective.