Afghan civil society seeks truce in intra-Afghan talks

By Shadi Khan Saif

KABUL, Afghanistan (AA) - Members of the Afghan civil society organizations on Saturday urged the delegates of maiden intra-Afghan peace talks with the Taliban to press for a truce in Qatar.

Earlier in the day, a number of politicians, civil society activists and journalists left for Doha, Qatar’s capital, to attend the forthcoming intra-Afghan dialogue for peace with the Taliban.

A day ahead of crucial talks in Doha, representatives of Afghan society told a press conference in their capital Kabul that an immediate truce and pavement of ground for direct talks between the government and the Taliban should be pursued in Doha.

Fareeda Nekzaad, member of the joint committee of journalists and civil society, told a presser that the peace delegates should also brief citizens about the talks in Doha.

She stressed efforts should be ensured to build confidence for a peaceful settlement of the raging Afghan conflict.

Danish Karokhail, another member of the committee, said that the peace delegates should not forward their party agendas, but strive for national goals of peace and harmony in the country.

The two-day conference will begin on Sunday, and will be co-hosted by Germany.

“Struggling for peace in #Afghanistan - Germany supports dialogue and confidence building as prerequisites for genuine peace negotiations. #intraAfghanDialogue”, the German Foreign Office, tweeted on Saturday.