This weekend a seminar was held in Fremont California. The Conflict Resolution, Research and Resource Institute Inc., headquartered in Tacoma, Washington State ran the training program. Cosponsors included the Institute for Afghan Studies, the Afghan Cultural Society, the Afghan Jarga and the Afghan Baheer. This was a first in a search for embracing of techniques for conflict resolution regarding the issue of Afghanistan. The objectives of the seminar were twofold. It was expected that the participants get acquainted with conflict resolution techniques that are available and can be used as tools for resolving a variety of conflicts. And then use the same in service of peace in Afghanistan. The Conflict Resolution, Research and Resource Institute expected to learn whether it could adapt similar training programs for implementing inside Afghanistan. The Institute has over a decade of international experience. But what is important is the idea of introducing those who can play decisive roles for bringing peace in Afghanistan with the techniques that have been used elsewhere with varying degrees of success.

The story of Afghanistan, especially during the past quarter of a century has been a story of conflict. It is the story of different aspects of conflict as they relate to the tragedy of Afghanistan. It is the story of conflict nurtured and propagated by a variety of intrinsic and extrinsic factors and interests.

In the traditional Afghan society and in its long history when most people lived simple lives within their agricultural economy and simple social tribal settings, their conflicts, too, were simple. They would fight over pastures for their livestock, over land for cultivation and often over social issues that touched on their family, clan and tribal honors. For the resolution of many such conflicts they had in place a system of Jirgas and councils that was practiced by almost all Afghan tribes.
But as social and political situations inside and outside the country changed, so did the nature of the conflicts afflicting it. People and groups started opposing each other on issues of ideology, acquisition of personal political power and economic and social exploitation of the resources.

As if these were not reason enough for divisive forces within the society to operate, foreign interests especially of the neighboring countries and regional and world powers also came to play their negative roles in propagating the conflict further.

In Afghanistan especially after the Soviet invasion the forces of division were nurtured by all powers with even minute interest in Afghanistan. The Soviet invasion proved as a turning point in the social value system of the country. Overnight, all Afghan historical, and traditional social values were changed in favor of an imposed regime that shunned anything and everything Afghan and wanted to impose anything and everything considered revolutionary by the invading communist superpower. The value system was damaged tremendously and traditional institutions were destroyed.

But with the repulsion of forces of occupation from Afghanistan, the value system, a system of social structure and governance agreed by the nation did not come about and instead foreign interests started fueling the fire of factional and even tribal wars. Conflicts became the rule.

National and international circles wondered if a resolution could be found. The United Nations took the lead and failed and failed again, before its last scoring at Bonn, in finding any workable solution to the prevailing conflicts in Afghanistan that not only cost lives, but also destroyed the country's infrastructure.
Apparently, the modern and scientific methods of conflict resolution were unknown to the national and international politicians entrusted with the responsibility of finding of a solution to the Afghan problem.

This gathering marked, to my knowledge, a first step towards driving home the fact that conflict resolution techniques that are currently part of the American educational system, need to be brought to the attention of those who will have a chance of utilizing them for overcoming of Afghanistan's current problems. Yet these techniques would be of great use in every participant's daily life and could be used profitably for the betterment of relations among groups and organizations many of which work for the same objectives.

It was expected that participants would come out of it better equipped to address issues related to conflict anywhere and under any circumstance. However, it is to be mentioned that application of academic principles of conflict resolution to a complex social structure in Afghanistan requires a thorough knowledge of the country, its people, its history and most important its value system. Therefore many of these principles may have to be altered in order to fit the Afghan circumstances. A thorough analysis of the social and political realities and trends would need to be taken up. National, regional and international economic interests that have sparked many of these conflicts need to be identified and dealt with. 3/2/02