Women negotiators were present in all meetings: Stanikzai

KABUL (Pajhwok): Afghan government-backed negotiating team’s head Masoum Stankikzai on Sunday said women members of their team were present in all meetings and no discussion took place in their absence.

Stanikzai held a meeting with women representing different walks of life, a statement from the State Ministry for Peace said.

The top peace negotiator believed women’s active role and presence in the peace process could have positive impact and would help Afghanistan achieve peace.

Referring to the first phase of peace talks in Doha, Stankizai said women members of the team participated in all meetings and no discussion was conducted without their presence.

Habiba Surabi, the government negotiating team member, said: “All issues are important but the two sides are yet to enter the main discussion of agenda.”

Another woman member of the team SharifaZurmati said coordination and similarity in views helped the Afghan team acted together.

She said strength and determination could help advance the peace process and asked women to convey the messages of Afghan negotiating team to far-flung areas of the country.

Zahra Mutahar Ahmadzai, assistant head of HCNRC, said: “This council wants all efforts for peace to be organized and calculated.”

Dr. Alami, assistant head of civil society organizations and human rights affairs, said the peace ministry continued to play its role like a bridge between negotiating team and different portions of society.

The ministry held consultative meetings and provided technical support to the negotiating team.

Participants of the meeting shared their views with the negotiating team about peace process.

Nh/ma

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