Paktika gathering demands ceasefire during Eidul Fitr

SHARANA (Pajhwok): Hundreds of residents of southeastern Paktika province on Friday held a gathering to ask all the warring parties to the conflict to declare ceasefire during Eidul Fitr.

The gathering in Yahyakhel district was attended by hundreds of elders and youth and spoke in support of the peace process.

Tribal elder Haji Sarwar Khan said war was no solution as no side could win the war during the past 18 years. He said the only solution to the Afghanistan conflict was intra-Afghan dialogue.

Khan said the ceasefire during the previous Eidual Fitr brought joys to people’s lives and urged the Taliban, the US and the Afghan government to accept the people’s demand of an end to the war.

The elder said the warring parties should declare ceasefire in respect to the holy festival of Eid and announce an end to fighting as part of the ongoing peace talks.

Another tribal elder Haji Gul Khan said this time the people of Afghanistan were hoping for a long-term ceasefire. He said if the warring sides really respected people’s wishes, they should show it in practice and announce ceasefire until the end of peace talks.

Speaking on behalf of the youth, Ali Mohammad Sadat said the only victims of the war were Afghans. He urged the warring sides to show mercy on Afghans and respond positively to their demand for peace.

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