<p><a href="/en/afganistan/kabul" class="glossify-link">KABUL</a> peace negotiating teams should agree on ceasefire and an honorable and lasting peace without any conditions.</p>
<p>The keenly-anticipated peace negotiations between the Afghan government and the <a href="https://www.pajhwok.com/en/taliban">Taliban</a> began in Doha today (Saturday).</p>
<p>Led by former spymaster Masoom Stanikzai, a 21-member team of the government arrived in Doha for direct talks with representatives of the militant movement.</p>
<p>On behalf of Kabul, Supreme Council for National Reconciliation Dr. Abdullah, Foreign Minister Hanif Atmar, Minister of State for Peace Affairs Syed Sadat MansoorNaderi and presidential representative Abdul-Salam Rahimi attended the launching ceremony.</p>
<p>US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also participated in the negotiations, with the Taliban ready for taking part in the long-awaited talks.</p>
<p>Demands of people from the delegations are that they should go beyond personal, party and other interests and make serious efforts for peace in the country because it would be very difficult to regain such an opportunity.</p>
<p>Pajhwok Afghan News talked to residents of different provinces and collected people’s views in this regard via its social media account.</p>
<p>Mohammad Akbar Jabarkhel, a resident of Nangarhar province, said speeches of the delegates should be based on national interest.</p>
<p>He said, “We have long been awaiting such a gathering among Afghans and finally the day came by the help of Allah, but these people should declare truce before paving the ground for lasting peace in Afghanistan.”</p>
<p>Ziaullah, a resident of southern Kandahar province, urged the two sides to avoid negativity and instead work for people’s goodness.</p>
<p>He said, “If they are real Afghans, they should end the ongoing conflict within a week and establish an inclusive government.”</p>
<p>Ilaha Sahil, a resident of western Herat province, said the two sides should not be in hurry while making speeches and decisions.</p>
<p>She said, “The negotiations have a link with the US elections, I think everything would be done in favor of the US but I urge the Afghan government and the Taliban to make decisions in their own favor.”</p>
<p>Noorullah, a resident of northern Kunduz province, said that representatives of the government and the Taliban should present their demands and decisions in accordance with Afghan and Islamic values in the ongoing intra-Afghan talks.</p>
<p>He said, “The two sides should be flexible in their talks and try not to miss this opportunity.”</p>
<p>Mohammad Hamid, a resident of Paktia province, said: “My only demand from the Afghan government and the Taliban is to announce truce and reconcile as soon as possible.”</p>
<p>Naqiullah Sejad, the Baghlan <a href="/en/hajj" class="glossify-link">hajj</a> and religious department head, said the two sides should respect efforts done so far for the peace process.</p>
<p>A number of other Facebook users expressed similar views and urged the Afghan and the Taliban delegations to declare truce and work really for lasting peace in Afghanistan.</p>
<p>pk/ma</p>
