Government paying special attention to youth: Dostum

KABUL were termed as huge challenges the Afghan youth faced at a gathering here Sunday.

A message from First Vice President Gen. Abdul Rashid Dostum was read out at the gathering marking the International Youth Day.

In his message, Dostum invited the Taliban to peace talks and hoped for success of the ongoing peace efforts in the country

Kamal Sadaat, secretary youth affairs at the Ministry of Information and Cultural Affairs, cited unemployment, poverty, family violence and lack of access to higher education as challenges being faced by the youth of today.

Ethnic differences, sectarian violence, insecurity and fighting were other problems in the county and warned the youth that ethnic and linguistic differences could badly harm a nation’s unity and could eliminate a society.

Vice President Gen. Dostum in his message termed the role of youth as vital in economic, social, cultural and political areas.

Dostum also termed insecurity a huge hurdle in the way of youth development and stressed greater role of the youth in the country’s development.

“We want the Taliban and specially the youth who are busy in fighting to put down their weapons and join the reconciliation process,” said Dostum.

Referring the peace efforts, Dostum said the steps taken for reconciliation were moving in the right direction and hoped it would yield positive result.

He said the national unity government was paying special attention to the youth as evident from their representation on top government level.

nh/ma