Progressive parties of Pakistan and Afghanistan announced the launch of a joint struggle against imperialism and religious extremism in the region and vowed to include progressive forces from Iran and India in their struggle. The progressive and democratic forces of Pakistan and Afghanistan met in the first ever joint conference which ended in Lahore on Thursday. This was a historic step as the progressive forces of both sides opened dialogue sat together and shared the sufferings of their people at the hands of the US-led NATO forces and religious extremists. The conference was attended by representatives of Afghan Labour Revolutionary Organisation, Solidarity Party of Afghanistan, Afghan Revolutionary Organisation, Malalai Joya Defense Committee, Labour Party Pakistan, Awami Party Pakistan, Workers Party Pakistan, Pakistan Trade Union Defense Campaign, Awami Tehreek and United Kashmir Peoples National Party.
Declaration points:
– Begin a joint campaign against forces of imperialism and religious extremism
– Unite progressive forces of India, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan
– Declare the NATO occupation a blatant violation of international law
– Condemn NATO hypocrisy of promoting warlords under the myth of democracy
– Declare the portrayal of greater woman’s rights in Afghanistan false
– Link the American War on Terror to the exploitation of, and increased violence within, Pakistan
– Condemn military action and repression in Balochistan
– Condemn the governments’ tacit patronisation of religious extremism and justifications for foreign invasions
– Plan to broaden the movement on social, cultural, educational and political levels
– Declare the occupation forces’ policies as giving rise to regimes no different than the Taliban
– Declare the Pakistan Army’s increasingly belligerent anti-American public attitude as damaging to the Pakistan-India peace process
– Reject a military solution to Pakistan-Afghanistan problems and seek pro-people alternatives
– Declare immediate withdrawal of foreign troops the solution to the region’s problems
– Recognise US imperial power, the neo-colonial Pakistan Army, the Taliban and various allied groups as enemies
– Jointly move against the above for achieving freedom and socio-economic justice for the masses
– Support enhancing of trade ties between South Asian countries