KABUL was impractical.
According to some reports, US and Taliban representatives recently met in Qatar on decreasing violence in Afghanistan after US president Donald Trump abruptly suspended peace talks with the Taliban.
Yesterday the Presidential Palace said there was no progress with regard to reduction of violence or ceasefire with the Taliban, saying if the insurgents did not accept truce offer, the peace efforts would yield no results.
Presidential Palace spokesman SediqSidiqi told a press conference in Kabul that ceasefire, long-lasting peace and a peace with dignity were the demands of Afghans and the Afghan government.
The Meshrano Jirga or Senate on Saturday discussed the peace process and reduction in violence as part of US-Taliban talks.
Hassibullah Kalimzai, a member the Meshrano Jirga or Senate from central Maidan Wardak province, said: “There is no special reduction in violence which always decreases in winter.
He said reduction in violence had no practical or legally aspect and the Afghan people would trust the peace talks if ceasefire was declared for three to six months.
Gul Ahmad Azimi, another lawmaker from western Farah province, held similar views about reduction of violence, saying people of Afghanistan were deeply concerned over the peace process ambiguity.
Abdullah Qarliq, Senate secretary, told today’s session that reduction in violence from Taliban had no meaning for Afghans except playing with their emotions.
He said reducing violence would not make any difference until ceasefire was declared from the Taliban side.
A number of other senators expressed similar views in this regard and urged a long-lasting peace and truce across the country.
Senate first deputy chairman Mohammad Alam Ezdiyar, who chaired today’s session, criticized the unclear peace agenda, saying the Afghan government was kept in dark about the ongoing peace negotiations.
He said the US should share all peace related details with the Afghan government.
Pk/ma
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