KABUL (SW) – The deputy head of the High Council for National Reconciliation has warned of a ‘dark future’ for the country if peace process failed to deliver results.

Assadullah Saadati, deputy head of the HCNR, told a gathering in Kabul here on Monday that he remained skeptical about the proposed Istanbul conference after Eid al-Fitr. He said it was not yet clear whether the Taliban would attend.

“At the moment, there is no clear vision for a decisive, serious and fundamental meeting ahead of us, but we are not disappointed,” he said.

On the other hand, Forouzan Rasouli, deputy director of the Equality Foundation for Peace and Democracy, criticized the non-inclusiveness of the government’s peace negotiating team. She said that leaders in this team focused on maintaining power, contrary to the people’s desire for peace.

According to Rasooli, in talks with more than a thousand women, local influential figures, religious leaders and youth in 10 provinces, all called for the international community to put pressure on the Taliban to make peace. “To encourage all parties involved and the opposition to make peace, there must be a global mechanism to guarantee and monitor the peace agreement and hold violators accountable,” she added.

Speaking on the occasion, Husna Jalil, Deputy Minister of Planning and Policy of the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, said the only desire of women is peace and reconciliation. According to her, women are by no means willing to back down to the dark past.

ENDS