Afghanistan thanks NU for helping create peace

Jakarta, NU Online
Thirteen scholars from Afghanistan met with the Central Board of Nahdlatul Ulama at the NU headquarters, Jakarta, on Friday (20/9). Dr. Fazal Gahani, leader of the Afghan delegation, appreciated NU for seeking to bring together all factions in their country to make peace.<>

Fazal also said that Pancasila as the state ideology and a way of life had universal values, adding "it is not only suitable for the Indonesian nation, but also for the world, including Afghanistan."

Meanwhile, the Deputy General Chairman of the NU KH As'ad Said Ali said, related to the peace process in Afghanistan, NU had coordinated with the Indonesia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

"Because it is related to foreign affairs," he said, adding that all this was due to the 'high level' political approaches taken by the country's largest Muslim organization by promoting noble and civilized values and characters.

Then he explained why NU strives to be a peacemaker in Afghanistan. According to him, because NU has always held three brotherhoods that consist of ukhuwah Islamiyah (brotherhood among Muslims), ukhuwah wathoniah (brotherhood among people of the same nation), and ukhuwah insaniyah (brotherhood among all human beings).

Second, wathoniyah brotherhood (brotherhood fellow citizens). Third Basariyah brotherhood (brotherhood among human beings). "We are both Muslims. If Afghanistan sick, sick Muslim Indonesia. Conversely, if the Indonesian Muslim sick, sick Muslim Afghanistan.

The Afghan Muslim scholars had formerly visited the NU museum in Surabaya, East Java, the Gajah Maja University and Sunan Pandanaran Islamic boarding school (pesantren) in Yogyakarta, Central Java.

Reporting by Abdullah Alawi; Editing by Sudarto Murtaufiq