Post-NATO Drawdown Afghanistan and Regional Security: Post-Conflict Social Re-construction through Peace Education

Abstract

Peace is a basic human need but, unfortunately, in parts of the world, violence is a major cause of suffering for the inhabitants. Further, trouble in one country causes instability throughout the region. The history of Afghanistan is full of instability and, for the past few decades, the volatile situation has adversely affected its neighbours, especially Pakistan and China. In the post-NATO drawdown, Afghanistan's security is at stake, which is alarming for the whole region. This study is an attempt to analyse this situation, particularly regarding how a comprehensive peace education process can help promote regional security. The last part of the paper, which focuses mainly on mechanisms to initiate a peace education process, is the outcome of a ten-year-long field survey in which a large number of people were interviewed. The paper argues that, in addition to various other measures, there is an urgent need to initiate a comprehensive and integrated system of peace education in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and China via a network of peace education centres.