Peace process: Role for war victim reps promised

KABUL (Pajhwok): State Minister for Peace Affairs Abdul Salam Rahimi, on Tuesday spoke with survivors of war victims through a video conference.

Rahimi welcomed statements and views of participants, expressing his grief over the plight of war victim relatives and welcomed ideas presented by them.

In a statement from the ministry, he urged families of victims to play an active role in peace talks. Their active participation would help answer their questions and address their concerns.

The victims’ kin stressed respect for rights of women, victims and minorities during the talks. They also underline efforts to preserve achievements made in these areas.

Rahimi said an end to war and turmoil of the last four decades, as well as consolidation of peace, required forgiveness, openness and active participation in the process.

Past incidents should not hinder progress on the peace front, the minister argued, calling reconciliation the need of the hout.

President Ghani’s special envoy said the State Ministry for Peace had been trying to facilitate the direct presence of representatives of war victims in the peace process.

He added the ministry was working to facilitate the direct presence of representatives of the victims of war in the peace process. He promised some people on behalf of this group would be involved in decision-making process.

In the end, Rahimi said his ministry planned to create a website that would carry accurate statistics and records on the number of war victims in the country. The move will help gain access to comprehensive information in war victims.

pk/mud