KABUL - Afghan Ambassador to the United States Hamidulla Mohib says Kabul is striving to put into practice Colombia’s peace experience in the peace process.
The Colombian peace process refers to reconcialtion between the Colombian government of President Juan Manuel Santos and the Revolutionary Armed Forces to bring an end to the 52 years long conflict.
Negotiations began in September 2012 and mainly took place in Havana, Cuba. Negotiators announced a final agreement to end the war and build lasting peace in August 2016. In the 52-year-old Colombian civil war, more than 260,000 people were killed and ober six million others displaced.
The ambassador, who visited Colombia to explore peace and reconcilations models, told Pajhwok Afghan News he went to Bogota in response to an official invitation.
During the three-day trip, he met several Colombian officials of the Ministry of External Affairs, the Ministry of Defence, the High Peace Commission, the Agency for Reincorporation and Normalisation, the Organisation for the Victims of Armed Conflict, the Ministry of National Eductaion, the High Councelor for Women’s Affaris and the National Museum of Colombia.
The main purpose of the visit was to start a dialogue about Colombia’s successful peace process and to understand what lessons and models may be replicated with success in Afghanistan, Mohib explained.
The officials and representatives shared the experiances of the country’s half-century of conflict and subsequent peace-building with Revolututionary Armed Forces.
The meetings covered multiple facts of peace building, from creating a climate of trust leading to negotiatons, transitional justice, women’s roles in the peace process and expanding service-delivery to citizens post conflict.
In order to strengthen bilateral political relations and cooperation, Mohib met Deputy Foreign Minister for International Affairs Patti Londoño Jaramillo.
They conferred on the upcoming credentialing ceremony for Colombia’s non-resident ambassador to Afghanistan, who is based in India.
In addition, they spoke about the possibility of a Colombian delegation visiting Afghanistan to build economic and trade ties.
Ministry of Defence officials told him about the possibility of working with Afghanistan to increase the capability of the Afghan forces, particularly the air force.
They discussed cooperation in the field of pilot training and technical assistance, as well as training in the field of de-mining operations.
He spoke to Colombian officials regarding opportunities for Afghans to participate in capacity building programmes and scholarships for higher education.
Mohib toured Colombia’s National Museum and discussed with the curator exhibiting there ancient Afghan artifacts. For example, the mobile Bakhtrian gold exhibit.
To conclude his trip, Mohib met US Ambassador to Colombia Kevin Whitaker.  He also participated in Eid prayers at a local mosque alongside fellow Afghans and Muslims living in Bogotá. (Pajhwok)