Afghan Biographies

Paris Conference Dec 2012


Name Paris Conference Dec 2012
Ethnic backgr.
Date of birth
Function/Grade Participants and Background
History and Biodata

Background:
The Paris-based Fondation pour la Recherche Strategique has already organized two conferences with other Afghan parties in 2011 and 2012. The upcoming three-day event (Dec 19-21, 2012) in the Chateau de la Tour at Gouvieux near Chantilly, close to Paris, France i s the first in which the Taliban are also expected to attend.

An official with the High Peace Council (HPC) - setup by Afghan President Hamid Karzai in 2010 in a bid to to reach out to the Taliban movement - said three of its members are participating in the Paris conference. They include former Taliban official Abdul Hakim Mujahid and Haji Din Mohammad.

"This is an unofficial conference." Janan Mosazai (afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs) told reporters in Kabul. "If the High Peace Council representatives want to participate in this conference, they will attend unofficially."

Hizb-e-Islami’s chief negotiator Dr Ghairat Baheer has also confirmed to lead his group.

Haji Mohammad Mohaqiq (Hazara) an Afghan parliamentarian whose Hezb-e-Wahadat party fought fiercely against the Taliban before their regime's downfall, in 2001, said he also planned to be in Paris. Asif Mohseni (Shia Scholar) and Abdul Satar Sirat  will also be present in Paris.

Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said that while two of the movement's representatives planned to deliver speeches, "there will be no political talks with anyone."

Mawlavi Shahabuddin Delawar (blacklisted by UN) member of the Taliban group policy department in Qatar and Mohammad Naeem Wardak a close member of the Taliban group in Qatar liaison office will offer views of the Taliban group regarding the future of Afghanistan in the conference. No Taliban leader by the name Naeem Wardak figures in Afghan or United Nations records. However, one diplomatic source identified him as Naeem Barich (aka Mohammad Khudaidad), former deputy minister of civil aviation and a member of the Taliban military commission until 2010.

Afghan high peace council will also be represented by Masoom Stanekzai and Haji Din Mohammad advisor to President Hamid Karzai in regards to the tribal affairs will also attend the conference.

In the meantime prominent anti-government opposition leaders including Mohammad Younis Qanooni and Dr. Abdullah Abdullah will also attend the session.

Sources close to Taliban liaison office in Qatar are saying that the parties involved in the conference will offer their views regarding the future of Afghanistan and will not be peace negotiation and there will be no secret agenda for the conference.

The source further added over 20 people will attend the conference from the countries and their list has been forwarded to Taliban liaison office. Afghan government and peace council officials are also among those who will attend the conference.

A main barrier with the talks is the Hezb-e-Islami and Taliban’s insistance on creating a Mujahidin Government after 2015.

According to a list obtained by the media following people will participate in the Paris Conference. The participants are 1. Mohammad Younus Qanuni, 2. Homayoun Shah Asifi and 3. Noor-ul-Haq Ulumi of National Coalition,4.  Ahmad Zia Massoud, 5. Mohammed Mohaqeq, and 6. Fizullah Zaki of National Front, 7. MPs Farkhunda Zahra Naderi and 8. Nilofar Ibrahimi, 9.  Mohammed Hanif Atmar of Right and Justice Party, 10. Hajji Din Mohammad, 11. Jilani Popal, 12. Sayed Hamid Gilani and 13. Hekmat Karzai of Afghan Government, 14. Hakim Mujahid, 15. Masoom Stanikzai, 16. Habibullah Fawzi of High Peace Council,17.  Nader Naderi of civil society and 18. Mullah Abdul Salam Zaeef from Taliban member. Names of 19. Ghairat Baheer, 20. Amin Karimi and 21. Mohammad Hakim of Hekmatyar led Hezb-e-Islami, 22. Shahabudin Dilawar and 23.  Naim Wardak from insurgents groups [the Taliban] are also appears in the list.(20121219)

Last Modified 2012-12-21
Established 2012-12-16