KABUL (SW) – Umer Daudzai, Secretary for the High Peace Council, has said the U.S would only announce withdrawal of troops after ensuring peace in Afghanistan.
He was addressing a moot titled “Women, Peace and Security” here on Wednesday. He said the Afghan government is aware about the talks between the Taliban and the U.S, and no peace deal has been reached so far. He said the Taliban had asked for the announcement of the withdrawal plan for the American troops, but the U.S delegation cleared that after a peace deal, if there was a consensus among the people of Afghanistan, the exit strategy would be finalized.
Daudzai said the consultative grand Loya Jirga (council) would be held next month to have the views of the people in this connection.
He said for the first time, a non-government entity would be organizing the Loya Jirga, and 30 per cent members of this consultative council would be women.
Sima Samar, head of the Afghanistan Human Rights Commission, said on the occasion there are many differences in opinion with the Taliban. She questioned why can a woman not become president of the country? She said women paid most sacrifices in the past 41 years of ragging war.
Calling for more role for women in the proposed peace talks, the AIHRC chief said overlooking the women’s role would seriously undermine sustainable peace in the country. Sima Samar said there is a dire need for listening to the war victims and a national reconciliation in a bid to stop personal feuds from spreading.
She stressed good governance, human and women rights should also be held supreme in the peace talks.
John Bass, U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan, expressed support for the Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process, and said the citizens should be aware of the developments related to the peace process.
“The United States respects the right of Afghans to make their own decisions and choose their own future through intra-Afghan talks. The process leading to those discussions must be inclusive — 50% of society who are women must be heard and included.”
This comes as the U.S and the Taliban are set to hold next round of talks in Doha, Qatar on 25 February.
ENDS
