According to previous schedule, tomorrow more than hundred religious scholars, representatives of Afghanistan Ulema Council and civil activists will come together in Kabul city in order to discuss the resolution issued in similar gathering held earlier this year where more

than hundred highly famous and influential scholars condemned suicidal attacks.

They also voiced that Afghanistan was an Islamic country and calling it Darul-Harb, (the House of war) was not right. “Misusing of Islamic source, on the basis of Islamic history, interpretation of Holy Quran and popular Hadith, is wrong and against Shariah Law”.

But before the Istanbul Conference, the head of Pakistani Ulema Council openly said that battle in Afghanistan, Kashmir and Palestine was in line with Islamic Shariah. In other words, according to him, those who are currently fighting Afghan and foreign security forces are practicing their religious ritual, Jihad, which is compulsory for all Muslims in the case of an invasion by foreign force.  However, there are various questions however avoided to be answered like whether the

country is any kind of occupation?  And militants only consist of less the one percent of the entire population and why the rest of Afghans do not have problem with the government and our foreign allies?

Indeed, his Fetwa was driven by politics as the Ulema Councils of both countries once decided to hold a joint conference in Kabul in order to take a joint initiative against suicide bombing and progressive violence in Afghanistan.  But after the revocation of the meeting, he made such statements; however, subsequently he claimed that there was misunderstanding and misinterpretation.

Reportedly, the main issue of tomorrow’s conference is also to let Afghan religious scholars know about the popular Islamic scholars who do not support suicide bombings and condemn those who commit violence by the name of Islamic Shariah.

No doubt, many Afghan religious scholars still wander whether to support the presence of foreign security forces. Sometimes they take harsh stance against issues which are in line with national interests. Afghan Security Directorate has frequently arrested or warned religious scholars of secret anti-government sermons.  However, it is not much likely that such conference affects the peace process visibly but is considered important for those who are influential but not so dominant about Shariah laws.