Executive Summary Building a lasting peace is not possible without genuine participation of victims of war, the most important constituency, in peace process in Afghanistan. Conflict parties have killed or injured more than 100, 000 civilians since 2009 alone. Estimates of pre-2001 victims of war stand at two million. These victims and their survivors have endured exponential pains and sufferings. The victim’s constituency, therefore, deserve to be recognized and respected as a legitimate and capable actor in negotiating the future frameworks of peace, accountability and governance in Afghanistan. Viewing victims as impediments to negotiating peace or relegating their fundamental concerns, issues and demands to the side-lines of a peace process, will render that peace extremely reversible. International examples of peacebuilding have revealed strong correlation between lasting peace and the participation of victims of war. Colombia and Northern Ireland offer important examples where direct participation of victims and civil society have made significant contribution to the sustainability of peace. Afghanistan must learn lessons from such comparative modalities of sustainable peacebuilding by facilitating the participation of Afghan victims of war in peace process. Victims’ participation in peace negotiation will have transformative impact by moderating the positions of conflict parties and of the victims themselves. Their involvement will also help create grassroots constituency for peace and generate greater legitimacy for eventual peace agreement, its implementation and durability BUILDING A LASTING PEACE IN AFGHANISTAN: PARTICIPATION OF VICTIMS OF WAR IN PEACE NEGOTIATIONS |3|