Baghlan rally urges govt-Taliban ceasefire

PUL-I-KHUMRI (Pajhwok): Elderly men and women activists and residents of northern Baghlan province in demanding lasting peace in the country.

The elderly men, women and civil society activists, in dozens, staged a peaceful rally in Pul-i-Khumri City, the provincial capital, and called for lasting peace.

Osman Sherzai, a civil society activist, said: “We are sick and tired of war, we call on the warning parties to end to the conflict in the country.”

He said all Afghans were demanding peace, therefore the government and the Taliban should declare ceasefire for durable peace in the country.

Mansoor Haqmal, another civil society activist, said: “We are gathered here to raise our voice for permanent peace because we are tired of war and now is the time for a real peace in Afghanistan.”

Mohammad Omar, an elderly man, told Pajhwok Afghan News that no one -- women, children and elderly people --- were secure in the ongoing conflict.

He said, “Foreigners are rarely killed in the conflict, only Afghans on the both sides are victims of this nonsense, there should be truce among us.”

A week back, residents of Pul-i-Khumri City emerged on roads and urged general truce.

Pk/ma