KABUL - Nine of every 10 Afghans support peace with the Taliban and 68 percent want a ceasefire ahead of open-ended intra-Afghan talks, shows a new survey by Pajhwok Afghan News.
Pajhwok launched the online survey on peace in Pashto, Dari and English languages from January 6 to January 18. The survey covered 2,250 people, including 89 (four percent) were women and the rest men, eight of every 10 respondents were residents of urban stations while the rest hailed from rural regions.
The survey comes as US-Taliban peace talks have been going on for the last one year in Qatar. Despite breaks and pauses, some progress has been made in the peace negotiations, but final agreement is yet to be signed.
Support for peace with Taliban
Ahmad Saeedi, a political analyst, said peace was to Afghans what water was to life. Reconciliation should be achieved in whatever way possible, he stressed.
About differences on the issue, he said in addition to a peace deal between the Taliban and the government, leaders should also make peace.
Peace should also be made between the public and the government, as there is a visible distance between the two sides, according to the analyst.
Saeedi noted peace talks were mostly an issue in urban areas but it was not right and the government, together with people, should support negotiations on the topic. (Pajhwok)