‘Continuation of war may derail peace talks’

JALALABAD (Pajhwok): Civilian Protection Working Group (CPWG) members on Tuesday said the continuation of war could derail the ongoing peace talks, urging truce for a successful outcome.

The group members held a conference in this capital city of eastern Nangarhar province and the participants welcomed the ongoing direct talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban in Qatar.

They termed the long-awaited negotiations as crucial for preventing the killing of civilians across the country.

Burhanuddin Seerat, a member of CPWG, told the gathering that the continuation of war could threaten the intra-Afghan talks and called on the Afghan government and Taliban to declare ceasefire before discussing other issues.

He said each day the war claimed hundreds of lives of civilians in the country, thus the warning parties should focus on declaration of truce first in their talks in Qatar.

Dr. Worekhmina Stanekzai, another member of the group, also stressed the need for declaration of ceasefire first in order the negotiations yield positive result.

She also demanded social justice and protection of women’s rights in a possible peace deal.

She said, “I have personally spoken to the Afghan peace negotiating team that we don’t want a peace that violates human rights and brings the Taliban regime back.”

pk/ma