KABUL - The Chair of the European Parliament’s Afghanistan delegation urges all sides to hold inclusive peace talks, involving all parts of Afghan society, A European parliament member said in a statement on Saturday.
“The concluded peace deal could mark the beginning of a comprehensive peace process. This is definitely a window of opportunity, for Afghanistan and the whole region, to end four decades of death and destruction, which should be seized, the statement said.
Petras Auštrevičius, issued the statement following the recent deal between the United States and the Taliban on the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan
Intra-Afghan negotiations are key to the peace process. The European Parliament will insist on the need to be inclusive in these Afghan-owned and Afghan-led negotiations, in order to achieve a secure and stable situation in the country as soon as possible.
All political factions and civil society, including Afghan women, youth and minorities, should be involved in the talks and throughout the whole process. It is essential that everyone in Afghanistan feel represented during the negotiations and in the next government, in order to safeguard respect for human rights, notably women’s and children's rights.
In this crucial moment, it is of utmost importance that domestic stability be sustained after the 2019 presidential election. This requires unity and accountability. Stakeholders must put the interests of the nation above their personal interests and all other considerations.
The European Parliament stands ready to facilitate and support the peace process with the aim of preserving the values of democracy, human rights and the rule of law, building upon the political, economic and social achievements of the people of Afghanistan.” (Pajhwok)