Women rights activists demand responsible end to war

MAZAR-I-SHARIF (Pajhwok): Women rights activists in northern Balkh province say foreign forces withdrawal from Afghanistan before any peace agreement would be dangerous.

Fareba Akbari, a women rights activist, told Pajhwok Afghan News that the future of Afghanistan faced uncertainty.

She said foreign forces pullout before a peace agreement between the Taliban and the Afghan government would be dangerous.

She stressed that the international community and the UN should resolve Afghanistan conundrum peacefully.

“We hoped that in the presence of international community an agreement on peace would be reached in which women rights are upheld but now it seems that the international community has reduced pressure on conflicting parties that will have adverse impact in the future,” she said.

She added that the Afghan government should help the Afghan women play a significant role in the peace process.

Civil society activist StoraiNaseera in her remarks demanded Afghan government and the Taliban enter ceasefire in order to build trust.

She said Afghans were the victims of the on-going violence and it was in the interest of no side.  She stressed that the conflicting parties should show flexibility in order to reach a durable peace.

“Before anything there is need for an inclusive ceasefire, the on-going bloodshed should b stopped and then peace talks under the auspicious of international community should be held until the talks reached a productive outcome.”

Women rights activists also stressed over meaningful participation of women in peace talks and demanded that the achievements of past 20 years should not be compromised.

Nh/ma