Tashkent Declaration on Fundamental Principles for a Peaceful Settlement of the Conflict in Afghanistan

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Country/entity: Afghanistan
Region: Europe and Eurasia
Agreement name: Tashkent Declaration on Fundamental Principles for a Peaceful Settlement of the Conflict in Afghanistan
Date: 19 Jul 1999
Agreement status: Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Interstate/intrastate conflict(s)
Afghan Wars (1979 - )
The agreements are drawn from two distinct conflict periods. Post Soviet-intervention period. First, after an uprising against the communist government, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in December 1979 and set up a puppet government. Fierce resistance came in on the form of domestic and foreign Mujahidin fighters who, by 1988, forced the Soviet Union to withdraw. The Communist government that remained was defeated in 1992 against a background of violence, which spiralled into a tumultuous multi-party civil war with a strong tribal basis. In 1993 a peace accord was signed, but by 1994 the conflict realigned itself as the Islamic-based Taliban emerged from the refugee camps, eventually occupying the capital city of Kabul in September 1996 spurring groups that had militantly opposed the communist government to unite in opposition to the Taliban.

Post US-intervention period. After the terror attacks on September 11, 2001, the United States invaded Afghanistan and removed the Taliban from power. In December 2001, the UNSC mandated the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) to assist Afghanistan’s interim authorities. In 2003 ISAF command was placed under NATO’s responsibility. Within three years, however, the Taliban managed to re-group and re-structure and launched intense resistance to the internationally-recognized Afghanistan government and NATO support troops. Despite this resurgence of the Taliban, NATO leaders lacked the necessary support for the mission abroad, and NATO troops were withdrawn by the end of 2014.
Stage: Pre-negotiation/process
Conflict nature: Government
Peace process: Afghanistan: 2000s Post-intervention process
Parties: Not signed, agreement mentions the following parties as having produced it: The Deputy Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the «Six plus Two» group, composed of the States bordering on Afghanistan - the People's Republic of China, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Republic of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan - as well as the Russian Federation and the United States of America.

These are believed to have been; Ji Peiding, China; Javad Zarif, Iran; Iftihar Murshid, Pakistan; Gulomzhon Mirzoyev, Tajikistan; Rashid Meredov, Turkmenistan; Abdusamat Khaydarov, Uzbekistan; Karl Inderfurth, U.S.A; and Vasily Sredin, Russian Federation.
Third parties: The agreement refers to the participation of the Special Envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General for Afghanistan, Mr. Lakhdar Brahimi.
Description: This short declaration commits the parties to refrain from providing military support to any group in Afghanistan. It outlines a negotiation process, and refers to issues including the trade of narcotics, humanitarian assistance, and the formation of a multi-ethnic government.

Agreement document: AF_990719_TashkentDeclaration.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

Groups

Children/youth: Groups→Children/youth→Rhetorical
Page 2
...
We express our profound concern at the violations of the human rights, including those of...women and girls
Disabled persons: No specific mention.
Elderly/age: No specific mention.
Migrant workers: No specific mention.
Racial/ethnic/national group: Groups→Racial/ethnic/national group→Rhetorical
Page 2
...
We express our profound concern at the violations of the human rights, including those of ethnic minorities
Religious groups: No specific mention.
Indigenous people: No specific mention.
Other groups: No specific mention.
Refugees/displaced persons: Groups→Refugees/displaced persons→Rhetorical
Page 5, 10
We are prepared to cooperate with the new Afghan Government
...
in order to...bring about the return the Afghan refugees to their homes
Social class: No specific mention.

Gender

Women, girls and gender: Page 2
...
We express our profound concern at the violations of the human rights, including those of ethnic minorities and women and girls, as well as the violations of international humanitarian law that are taking place in Afghanistan.
Men and boys: No specific mention.
LGBTI: No specific mention.
Family: No specific mention.

State definition

Nature of state (general): No specific mention.
State configuration: No specific mention.
Self determination: No specific mention.
Referendum: No specific mention.
State symbols: No specific mention.
Independence/secession: No specific mention.
Accession/unification: No specific mention.
Border delimitation: No specific mention.
Cross-border provision: No specific mention.

Governance

Political institutions (new or reformed): Governance→Political institutions (new or reformed)→General references
Page 4, 5
...
(b) The main objective of the second stage is for the Afghans themselves to draw up basic principles for the future State structure of Afghanistan and the establishment of a broad-based, multi-ethnic and fully representative Government within a short period of time.
Elections: No specific mention.
Electoral commission: No specific mention.
Political parties reform: No specific mention.
Civil society: No specific mention.
Traditional/religious leaders: No specific mention.
Public administration: No specific mention.
Constitution: No specific mention.

Power sharing

Political power sharing: Power sharing→Political power sharing→Executive coalition
State level
Page 3-4,

In view of the foregoing, we have come to the following conclusions:

1. We are convinced that there is no military solution to the Afghan conflict, which must be settled through peaceful political negotiation in order to establish a broad -based, multi -ethnic and fully representative Government.

2. We urge the Afghan parties to resume political negotiations aimed at achieving these goals.
. . .
5 (b). The main objective of the second stage is for the Afghans themselves to draw up basic principles for the future State structure of Afghanistan and the establishment of abroad—based, multi—ethnic and fully representative Government within a short period of time.
Territorial power sharing: No specific mention.
Economic power sharing: No specific mention.
Military power sharing: No specific mention.

Human rights and equality

Human rights/RoL general: Page 2
...
We express our profound concern at the violations of the human rights, including those of ethnic minorities and women and girls, as well as the violations of international humanitarian law that are taking place in Afghanistan.

Page 4, 9
We are fully determined to make every effort to encourage the Afghan parties to respect fully the basic human rights and fundamental freedoms of all Afghans in accordance with the basic norms of international law.
Bill of rights/similar: No specific mention.
Treaty incorporation: No specific mention.
Civil and political rights: No specific mention.
Socio-economic rights: No specific mention.

Rights related issues

Citizenship: No specific mention.
Democracy: No specific mention.
Detention procedures: No specific mention.
Media and communication: Rights related issues→Media and communication→Other
Page 4, 7
We urge the Taliban to inform the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United Nations about the results of their investigations into the killings of the diplomatic and consular staff of the Consulate-General of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Masar-e-Sharif and the correspondent of the Islamic Republic News Agency, and appeal to the Taliban to cooperate fully with the international investigation into their killing in order to punish the guilty parties.
Mobility/access: Page 4, 5
...
ii) The holding at this stage of direct negotiations between the plenipotentiary delegations of the two main parties to the conflict - the United Front and the Taliban movement - in order to reach agreements, inter alia on:
...
Lifting internal blockades and opening roads for reciprocal trade and delivery of humanitarian assistance in the territories controlled by the various Afghan groups;
Protection measures: No specific mention.
Other: No specific mention.

Rights institutions

NHRI: No specific mention.
Regional or international human rights institutions: No specific mention.

Justice sector reform

Criminal justice and emergency law: No specific mention.
State of emergency provisions: No specific mention.
Judiciary and courts: No specific mention.
Prisons and detention: No specific mention.
Traditional Laws: No specific mention.

Socio-economic reconstruction

Development or socio-economic reconstruction: Socio-economic reconstruction→Development or socio-economic reconstruction→Humanitarian assistance
Page 4, 5
...
(ii) The holding at this stage of direct negotiations between the plenipotentiary delegations of the two main parties to the conflict - the United Front and the Taliban movement - in order to reach agreements, inter alia on:
...
Lifting internal blockades and opening roads for reciprocal trade and delivery of humanitarian assistance in the territories controlled by the various Afghan groups;
National economic plan: No specific mention.
Natural resources: No specific mention.
International funds: Page 5, 10
We are prepared to cooperate with the new Afghan Government
...
in order to....ensure speediest rehabilitation and reconstruction of Afghanistan through support from UN agencies and programmes, international financial organizations and donor countries.

Page 5, 11
We call upon the international community to respond to the Inter Agency Consolidated Appeal for Emergency Humanitarian and Rehabilitation Assistance for Afghanistan, launched by the Secretary General for the period from 1 January to 31 December 1999, bearing in mind also the existence of the Afghanistan Emergency Trust Fund. Support for demining is of particular importance.
Business: No specific mention.
Taxation: No specific mention.
Banks: No specific mention.

Land, property and environment

Land reform/rights: No specific mention.
Pastoralist/nomadism rights: No specific mention.
Cultural heritage: No specific mention.
Environment: No specific mention.
Water or riparian rights or access: No specific mention.

Security sector

Security Guarantees: Page 3, 3
...
we have further agreed not to provide military support to any Afghan party and to prevent the use of our territories for such purposes.
Ceasefire: Security sector→Ceasefire→General commitments
Page 4, 5
We consider that the negotiation process must be conducted under the auspices of the United Nations and may consist of two stages.
(a) The main objective of the first stage is to adopt measures for building mutual confidence. Such measures will include: (i) The signing of an agreement on an immediate and unconditional ceasefire without any pre-conditions;
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: No specific mention.
DDR: No specific mention.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: Page 3
...
We are also concerned at the use of Afghan territory, especially areas controlled by the Taliban, to conceal and train terrorists, and the fact that dangerous consequences of such actions can be seen in Afghanistan, its neighbouring countries and far beyond their borders.

Page 4, 5
...
(ii) The holding at this stage of direct negotiations between the plenipotentiary delegations of the two main parties to the conflict - the United Front and the Taliban movement - in order to reach agreements
Withdrawal of foreign forces: No specific mention.
Corruption: No specific mention.
Crime/organised crime: Page 3, Preamble
...
We are deeply distressed with the steady increase in the cultivation, production and illicit trafficking of narcotics and the illegal sale of arms, which have far reaching unfavourable consequences not only for the region but beyond it as well.

Page 4, 6
Those of us, who have a common border with Afghanistan, moved by a common desire to take effective and coordinated measures to combat illicit drug-trafficking, have agreed, on a bilateral and multilateral basis, to strengthen effective and coordinated measures to combat illicit drug-trafficking.
Drugs: Page 3, Preamble
...
We are deeply distressed with the steady increase in the cultivation, production and illicit trafficking of narcotics and the illegal sale of arms, which have far reaching unfavourable consequences not only for the region but beyond it as well.

Page 4, 6
Those of us, who have a common border with Afghanistan, moved by a common desire to take effective and coordinated measures to combat illicit drug-trafficking, have agreed, on a bilateral and multilateral basis, to strengthen effective and coordinated measures to combat illicit drug-trafficking.
Terrorism: Page 3
...
We are also concerned at the use of Afghan territory, especially areas controlled by the Taliban, to conceal and train terrorists, and the fact that dangerous consequences of such actions can be seen in Afghanistan, its neighbouring countries and far beyond their borders.

Page 4, 8
We urge the Afghan parties, particularly the Taliban, to cease providing refuge and training to international terrorists and their organizations and to cooperate with the efforts to bring terrorists to justice.

Transitional justice

Transitional justice general: Page 4, 7
We urge the Taliban to inform the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United Nations about the results of their investigations into the killings of the diplomatic and consular staff of the Consulate-General of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Masar-e-Sharif and the correspondent of the Islamic Republic News Agency, and appeal to the Taliban to cooperate fully with the international investigation into their killing in order to punish the guilty parties.
Amnesty/pardon: No specific mention.
Courts: No specific mention.
Mechanism: No specific mention.
Prisoner release: Page 4, 5
...
(ii) The holding at this stage of direct negotiations between the plenipotentiary delegations of the two main parties to the conflict - the United Front and the Taliban movement - in order to reach agreements, inter alia on: Exchanging of prisoners of war
Vetting: No specific mention.
Victims: No specific mention.
Missing persons: No specific mention.
Reparations: No specific mention.
Reconciliation: No specific mention.

Implementation

UN signatory: The agreement refers to the participation of the Special Envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General for Afghanistan, Mr. Lakhdar Brahimi.
Other international signatory: No specific mention.
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: No specific mention.
Enforcement mechanism: No specific mention.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: UN Peacemaker
http://peacemaker.un.org/
http://peacemaker.un.org/node/645

Tashkent Declaration on Fundamental Principles for a Peaceful Settlement of the Conflict in Afghanistan

The Deputy Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the «Six plus Two» group, composed of the States bordering on Afghanistan - the People's Republic of China, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Republic of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan - as well as the Russian Federation and the United States of America, having met in Tashkent on July 19, 1999 with the participation of the Special Envoy of the United Nations Secretary -General for Afghanistan, Mr. Lakhdar Brahimi, having considered the situation in Afghanistan, being sincere friends of the Afghan people and desiring peace and prosperity for Afghanistan, have confirmed the following principles.

We express the profound concern of our Governments at the continuing military confrontation in Afghanistan, which is posing a serious and growing threat to regional and international peace and security.

We remain committed to a peaceful political settlement of the Afghan conflict, in accordance with relevant provisions of resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly and the Security Council of the United Nations, and we, in particular, recall the «talking points» and the « points of common Understanding », adopted earlier by the countries of the «Six plus Two» group (Al 521826 -SI 19981222, annex, and Al 531455 -SI 19981913, annex, respectively).

We confirm that the United Nations, as a universally recognized intermediary, must continue to play a central and impartial role in international efforts to achieve a peaceful resolution of the Afghan conflict and we reaffirm our full support for the efforts of the Special Envoy of the Secretary -General for Afghanistan and the work of the United Nations Special Mission to Afghanistan.

We reaffirm our firm commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity of Afghanistan.

We express our profound concern at the violations of the human rights, including those of ethnic minorities and women and girls, as well as the violations of international humanitarian law that are taking place in Afghanistan.

We are deeply distressed with the steady increase in the cultivation, production and illicit trafficking of narcotics and the illegal sale of arms, which have far -reaching unfavorable consequences not only for the region but beyond it as well.

We are also concerned at the use of Afghan territory, especially areas controlled by the Taliban, to conceal and train terrorists, and the fact that dangerous consequences of such actions can be seen in Afghanistan, its neighboring countries and far beyond their borders.

In view of the foregoing, we have come to the following conclusions:

1. We are convinced that there is no military solution to the Afghan conflict, which must be settled through peaceful political negotiation in order to establish a broad -based, multi -ethnic and fully representative Government.

2. Accordingly, we urge the Afghan parties to resume political negotiations aimed at achieving these goals.

3. In order to help bring about a cessation of hostilities, which we consider essential, we have further agreed not to provide military support to any Afghan party and to prevent the use of our territories for such purposes.

We call upon the international community to take identical measures to prevent delivery of weapons to Afghanistan.

4. We express our readiness to promote direct negotiation, under the auspices of the United Nations, between the Afghan parties in accordance with the relevant resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly and Security Council of the United Nations and this Declaration in order to conclude an intra -Afghan agreement on the implementation of paragraph 1, set forth above.

As members the "Six plus Two" group, we are fully determined to provide our individual and collective support to this process.

5. We consider that the negotiation process must be conducted under the auspices of the United Nations and may consist of two stages.

(a) The main objective of the first stage is to adopt measures for building mutual confidence.

Such measures will include:

(i) The signing of an agreement on an immediate and unconditional ceasefire without any pre -conditions;

(ii) The holding at this stage of direct negotiations between the plenipotentiary delegations of the two main parties to the conflict - the United Front and the Taliban movement - in order to reach agreements, inter alia on:

Exchanging of prisoners of war,

Lifting internal blockades and opening roads for reciprocal trade and delivery of humanitarian assistance in the territories controlled by the various Afghan groups;

(b) The main objective of the second stage is for the Afghans themselves to draw up basic principles for the future State structure of Afghanistan and the establishment of a broad -based, multi -ethnic and fully representative Government within a short period of time.

6. Those of us, who have a common border with Afghanistan, moved by a common desire to take effective and coordinated measures to combat illicit drug -trafficking, have agreed, on a bilateral and multilateral basis, to strengthen effective and coordinated measures to combat illicit drug - trafficking.

In this connection, we recall and confirm the important role played by the United Nations Drug Control Programme in this process.

7. We urge the Taliban to inform the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United Nations about the results of their investigations into the killings of the diplomatic and consular staff of the Consulate -General of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Masar -e-Sharif and the correspondent of the Islamic Republic News Agency, and appeal to the Taliban to cooperate fully with the international investigation into their killing in order to punish the guilty parties.

8. We urge the Afghan parties, particularly the Taliban, to cease providing refuge and training to international terrorists and their organizations and to cooperate with the efforts to bring terrorists to justice.

9. We are fully determined to make every effort to encourage the Afghan parties to respect fully the basic human rights and fundamental freedoms of all Afghans in accordance with the basic norms of international law.

10. We are prepared to cooperate with the new Afghan Government that is to be established in accordance with paragraph 1, set fourth above, in all aspects in order to strengthen security and stability in Afghanistan and the region, bring about the return the Afghan refugees to their homes and ensure speediest rehabilitation and reconstruction of Afghanistan through support from UN agencies and programmes, international financial organizations and donor countries.

11. We call upon the international community to respond to the Inter - Agency Consolidated Appeal for Emergency Humanitarian and Rehabilitation Assistance for Afghanistan, launched by the Secretary - General for the period from 1 January to 31 December 1999, bearing in mind also the existence of the Afghanistan Emergency Trust Fund.

Support for demining is of particular importance.

12 We call upon the international community to support these proposals and take coordinated steps to bring about a speedy settlement of the conflict in Afghanistan and also call upon all forces in Afghanistan to demonstrate political will and wisdom, overcome their differences and mutual hostility and not miss an historic opportunity to achieve stable and long -lasting peace.

13. The present Declaration is established in two originals, in the English and the Russian languages, both texts being equally authentic.

DONE in the City of Tashkent, the Republic of Uzbekistan, this « 19th » day of the month of July one thousand nine hundred and ninety -nine.