Jamiat Eslah Council urges govt, Taliban to stop violence

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Jamiat-i-Eslah Afghanistan political party on Monday called on the Taliban and the government to stop violence and attacks against each other for the sake of peace.

The council in a statement the people of Afghanistan awaited the outcome of intra-Afghan talks in Qatar and they would accept no excuses for lasting peace in the country.

Peace negotiators from the government and Taliban sides have agreed on the procedural rules for theirs talks in Doha after months of discussions.

The two sides have risen for a three-weak break and are expected to resume the parleys on January 5.

The Jamiat-i-Eslah Council party said escalating fighting and counter-attacks between Taliban and security forces had shattered people’s hopes for peace, urging an immediate end to violence and comprehensive ceasefire to avoid further bloodshed.

“We strongly condemn criminal incidents in major cities, particularly in Kabul, such as armed robberies, kidnappings, and targeted killings of religious scholars, journalists, national figures, and we urge the Afghan government to protect the lives, property and dignity of the people as part of its duty,” the Jamiat-i-Eslah Council said.

The council’s central committee called on the United Nations, the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) and neighboring countries to take real steps for an end to the war and bloodshed in Afghanistan and pave the way for regional trade and cooperation.

bk/ma