Rais Aam: Ulema trilateral conference aimed at creating peace in Afghanistan

Jakarta, NU Online
The Afghanistan-Indonesia-Pakistan ulema trilateral conference held in Bogor is aimed at creating peace in Afghanistan.

The supreme leader of the Indonesia's largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), KH Ma'ruf Amin made the statement during the opening of the conference at the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java, on Friday.

"Thank God that we can meet here to discuss the unity of our Afghan brothers. We hope that unity would usher in peace efforts in Afghanistan," Kiai Ma'ruf remarked.

Kiai Ma'ruf Amin, who spoke in Arabic, noted that Indonesian Muslims shared the same sentiments as their Afghan counterparts on matters related to the country.

"We are Muslims, so what happened in Afghanistan can be felt by our brothers in Indonesia," he emphasized.

The chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) elaborated that in spite of its diversity, Indonesia, home to several ethnic tribes and religions, has upheld the principle of ukhuwah Islamiyah, or brotherhood based on the Islamic law, and ukhuwah wathaniyah, or brotherhood in nationality.

"Hopefully, Muslims in Afghanistan would uphold the same principles," he added.

He expressed hope that the trilateral conference would encourage Muslims in Afghanistan to engage in the reconciliation process based on nationality and religious responsibility.

He added that Indonesia has the responsibility to maintain world peace as mandated in the preamble of its Constitution.

"We pray for our brothers in Afghanistan. May Allah bring peace, security, and prosperity to Afghanistan," he stated.

The trilateral conference was opened by President Joko Widodo. Present at the occasion were Vice President Jusuf Kalla, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Wiranto, and Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi.

Among the delegation from Afghanistan and Pakistan at the conference were Chairman of the Afghanistan Ulema Council Qiamuddin Kashaf and Chairman of the Pakistan Council of Islamic Ideology DR Qibal Ayaz. (Masdar)