KHOST CITY - Religious scholars and tribal elders in southeastern Khost province on Tuesday said “illegal distribution” of weapons to residents in Northern provinces would lead the country to another crisis.

Speaking at a gathering to voice support for the ongoing peace process, they claimed some circles wanted to derail the peace parlays for their own interests.

Besides religious scholars and tribal elders, the gathering was attended by civil society activists, provincial council members and others in Khost City, the provincial capital.

They asked the government to use all possible means for bringing peace and stability to Afghanistan.

Speaking on the occasion, provincial council member Abdul Wali Wahidzai said some circles feared they would be held accountable for their misdeeds if the war came to a close.

 “For God’s sake, these militias are not in the interest of Afghanistan, they are anti-peace and anti-stability and their creation must be stopped,” Wahidzai added.

Religious scholar Maulvi Rahimullah asked all the warring parties to stage a ceasefire without any condition.

He appealed to the government to intensify the peace process and allow those individuals who represented all the Afghans to take part in the second round of peace talks with the Taliban.

Another religious leader, Maulvi Hazrat Khan, said if the government was sincere in bringing peace, it should crackdown on administrative corruption as a second major step after peace talks with the Taliban.

“Administrative corruption is the most evil thing that hurts peace. That’s why our nation has been in numerous troubles.”

Tribal elder Haider Gul Mangal urged the government and the Taliban to avoid discussing trivial issues and reach agreements on matters of huge national interests.

He said they fully supported the peace process and wanted the mediating countries to spare no effort in making the process a success. (Pajhwok)