KABUL, 22 November 2020, (TON): The 2020 Afghanistan Conference, co-hosted by Afghanistan, Finland, and the UN scheduled on 23-24 November 2020, is another opening to renew commitments to the peace, development and prosperity of Afghanistan.  Due to the serious Covid-19 situation in Switzerland, the Conference will take place virtually, with the Palais des Nations in Geneva remaining as the hub for all logistics.

Finland is committed to support inclusive participation of Afghan civil society in the 2020 Afghanistan Conference. Coordination of the civil society was awarded to BAAG the British and Irish Agencies Afghanistan Group (BAAG) and its partner Civil Society Working Committee (CSWC) to advance this objective. The CSO statement presented by the official CSO delegation on 24th of November will be a synthesis of national discussions and provincial consultations conducted in Afghanistan.

Those who intend to sabotage Afghan peace talks to exclude Taliban from mainstream politics have accelerated terrorist acts throughout Afghanistan to compel Washington to delay the Christmas withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan.  On Saturday, eleven people were killed and at least 50 others wounded in two IED explosions and 23 rocket attacks. Although as in the past no group has claimed responsibility for the attacks but generally Indian and Western patronized Afghan living in India are believed to be behind these terrorist acts.