“Peace is more than the absence of war. Peace is accord. Harmony.” ― Laini Taylor

Exercising peace is critical when representing a country, as many individuals will sail through life without experiencing harmony. Late Abdul Hakim Dalili was a businessman, engineer, teacher and former Afghan ambassador in Qatar who spent a chunk of his life negotiating peace. For the betterment of society and the world in general, peace is a pillar of strength and allows individuals to feel liberated. Dalili was an inspiration, a source of pride for Afghanistan, as he did all that he could in his power to bring peace to his home country. Dalili was appointed as an ambassador of Afghanistan in Qatar in February 2019, and he left the world in December 2020 in Doha due to cardiac arrest.

Existing in a world of chaos

“In the space between chaos and shape, there was another chance.”
― Jeanette Winterson

A painful history encircles Afghanistan, and its people have suffered immensely at the hands of outsiders. Afghanis had to leave their home country and migrate to neighboring countries as the war was taking place with full throttle. The true patriots never left Afghanistan when there were brutal killings and even losing their loved ones. Dalili has played a pivotal role in holding peace talks to bring the country back to its original glory. Dalili, the Kabul diplomat, resided in Doha, Qatar, to hold inter-Afghan talks and played a vital role in negotiating harmony. He was born in 1972, and at the age of seven, Dalili had to leave his country of birth as the Soviet Union had invaded Afghanistan. Many individuals have been torn away from their homes and had to migrate. Dalili and his family migrated to Pakistan, where he resided in the city Peshawar. Life was harsh and unbearable as the most irreparable damage was being done to Afghanistan, but Dalili was merely a child at that point.

Dalili completed his primary education and attended college before returning to Qatar. In the late 1980s, the Qatari government gave scholarships to five Afghani students for being academically gifted. Dalili was one of the five students who successfully secured the scholarship and got admission in Qatar University due to his academic distinction. In 1992, he got to study civil engineering and graduated with honors in 1997, which proves that dedication pays off. Dalili was a teacher’s assistant in the civil engineering department for seven years and taught at Qatar University before heading back to Afghanistan. As he returned, he developed a keen interest in the politics of his country and got several offers to represent his nation. Dalili was offered to be the Afghan ambassador in Kuwait, but he chose Qatar as he felt close to the country due to his academic history there.

Deciding to rise above

“Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding.”
― Albert Einstein

When the world was talking about Afghanistan and its future, Dalili kept himself occupied by hosting peace talks. The Afghan embassy was opened in Doha in 2003, while the Qatar embassy came to Afghanistan in 2019, making it the third Arab country to have an active ambassadorial presence there. As war grappled Afghanistan, the people suffered the most as their homes were destroyed. Children became orphans with no food to eat and had to fend for themselves. Some individuals were forced to migrate through the turmoil, which made the process of separation from their home country a traumatizing experience. As a country begins to prosper and starts to shine, the nations that cannot handle their success begin to destroy their foundation. Afghanistan is a country that has been a victim of abuse and torture, which was filled with agony for its residents.

Dalili was known for his commitment and a solid reputation for standing up for what is true. Even in the initial days of the COVID-19 pandemic, he pointed out how Qatar was tracking down the number of cases and isolating those affected. Qatar has also supplied health and medical goods to help facilitate the Afghans. It is genuinely tremendous being a representative of a country that has been through so much agony. Dalili is a fine example of individuals who remain resolute in moments of adversity. The world was suffering due to the pandemic, but Dalili did everything in his power to diminish the challenges faced by his countrymen. It is all about perspective and looking ahead when making a decision. The world is constantly evolving, and for everything to be in order, there needs to be peace and harmony. Individuals should take inspiration from Dalili as he has been a powerful force in instigating change and maintaining peace.