In reaction to recent kidnappings, killings and suicide attacks in Kabul and various other provinces in Afghanistan, the Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Yousef Al Othaimeen appealed to government, political leaders and the people of Afghanistan and OIC Member States to work together to “fence-off the ongoing violence and focus on holding free, fair, inclusive and transparent elections.”

In a statement issued by the OIC on Saturday, the organizations said: “Drawing world’s attention to the significant increase in civilian casualties and collateral damage in Afghanistan, Secretary General Al Othaimeen once again emphasized that it is high time to uphold the principles and goals laid down by the 11th of July ‘Makkah Declaration of the International Ulema Conference on Peace and Security of Afghanistan’, encourage all parties to exercise restraint and redouble efforts towards dialogue, mutual tolerance and reconciliation.”

The statement also added that “recalling the positive impact of the temporary ceasefire declared by the parties during Eid-ul-Fitr, and appreciating the efforts to promote constructive talks among Afghans, Secretary General Al Othaimeen renewed OIC’s strong support towards reenergizing dialogue and negotiations to enhance the climate of lasting peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan and beyond.

Last month religious scholars attended a two-day International Ulema Conference for Peace and Security in Afghanistan in Saudi Arabia and issued a declaration calling for the Taliban to denounce violence and come to the peace talks table.

The scholars from the Islamic world reaffirmed their support for a just, lasting, comprehensive and acceptable resolution to the ongoing war in Afghanistan and called on both the Afghan government and the Taliban to conform to a truce and ceasefire.

They stated that the only way to end the current crisis in Afghanistan and establish durable peace in the war-ravaged nation was the resumption of the peace process and national reconciliation between the Afghan government and the Taliban.

They also stated that the ongoing violence and killing of innocent people was in contradiction to the teachings of Islam.

The declaration states that the delegates at the summit reviewed the “sufferings endured by the Muslim Afghan people with the shedding of innocent blood, the loss of sacred lives, and the wasting of the Muslim state’s resources in a prevailing environment that is in no way approved by the noble Islamic faith which accords prime value to security and which offers a whole range of texts calling for concerted action to establish peace in the Muslim societies and to encourage reconciliation among Muslims, a reconciliation which Islam places on a high pedestal as a prime act to please Allah, Mighty and Sublime be He.”

More than 200 representatives from 57 countries and 108 Ulema members from 32 countries attended the summit.