KABUL (SW) – The Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission and the Afghan Women Network on Thursday urged warring sides to ceasefire in the country.
Sima Samar, chairperson of the AIHRC, told a moot in this connection that women have suffered immensely owing to the raging conflict in the country. She said the Afghan conflict would turn 41-year-old later this year, and it is time to put an end to the sufferings and miseries.
Urging the warring sides to end fighting, she said a total of 8.3 per cent of women are directly affected by the ongoing conflict in the country.
Speaking on the occasion, Shenkai Zaheen Karokheil, former member of the Wolesi Jirga (lower house), said all evils in the country are born out of the war. She stressed the Taliban should rollback their ‘Al-Fath’ offensives and the government should stop its ‘Khalid’ security operation against the insurgents.
Representatives of the AWN said a ceasefire would pave way for peace talks. They vowed to name a day for men in the country in honor for those striving for the peaceful resolution of the conflict.
In a joint statement, the AIHRC and AWN urged the warring sides to ensure proper representation of women in the proposed peace process.
Separately, the U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation, Zalmay Khalilzad, has expressed regrets over the loss of civilian lives. “We are distressed by reports of civilian casualties, each one an unnecessary victim of a war that has gone too long. Sons &daughters, brothers &sisters, neighbors &friends. Their deaths outrage us all & we stand w/ Afghans who protest the deaths & want to end the bloodshed”, he tweeted.
ENDS
