GARDEZ (SW) – Hundreds of Paktia residents on Tuesday took to the streets despite heavy snowfall to express support for the security forces.
Chanting slogans in support for the security forces, the demonstrators vehemently condemned the latest remarks by the Taliban related to dissolving the security forces in the wake of a peace deal. They dubbed the Taliban as ‘foreign spies’ and urged them to engage in direct talks with the Afghan government.
The protesters also denounced the meeting in Moscow, and said those taking part in this meeting do not represent the Afghan people. Expressing support for the security forces, they also rejected the idea of an interim set-up.
Former president Hamid Karzai, and a number of other politicians namely Mohammad Haneef Atmar, Mohammad Mohaqiq, Atta Mohammad Noor, Yonus Qanooni, Ismail Khan, Hekmat Karzai, Abdul Hadi Arghandiwal are set to meet a Taliban delegation led by Abbas Stanekzai.
At the Gardez demonstration, the security forces expressed determination to defend the homeland with bravery.
A day earlier, President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani also vowed not to allow anyone undermine credibility of the security forces.
ENDS