Ser.No: 132

Date: 15/07/2020

Kabul – Afghanistan

Why ceasefire does not take place?

            People of Afghanistan, particularly women, have always backed any peace efforts and been hopeful for a sustainable peace, as Afghanistan is on the gateway of peace process and intra-Afghan negotiations. Afghan people believe that the prisoners release by both sides shows a strong will for peace and end of war in Afghanistan.

The ceasefire during three days of Eid-ul Fitr was a rekindling of hope for peace in Afghanistan, but soon afterward we saw a manifold increase in violence.

Sadly, the longsuffering Afghans have sacrificed in the name of power thirsty people for past forty years, but even still concessions are being traded off on their blood and innocent youth, women and children are being killed in the name of peace.

Increase in armed attacks on civilians shows the will for peace is undermined and weakened.

Afghan people, same as people across the world, face threats of Covid-19 and suffer a bad economic condition and shortage of health facilities. Meanwhile, the increase in terrorist attacks and insecurity, to mention some, killing of innocent youths and children in Helmand, targeted killings, terrorist attacks in Kabul and many other provinces, terrorist attack on the security command of Samangan province, led people lose their trust on the peace process and added on their concerns.

People are left with nothing but disappointments and fear, and having one question in mind: Until when?

One of the negative impacts of war is the illegal migration of Afghan youth to neighboring countries, that unfortunately, oftentimes, they face inhumane violence (torture and drowning Afghans in Harirod river and burning Afghan refugee vehicle in Yazd of Iran).

Based on the findings of the Independent Human Rights Commission of Afghanistan, which was published on the 14th of July, 1213 civilians have been killed and 1744 have been injured in the ongoing conflicts in the past six months. The report also states that there have been 189 killing and 81 injuries in the airstrikes.

The Afghan people know that this is a proxy war, a war for power and benefits, its Afghan citizens that are being killed on both sides, and it’s the Afghan mothers that bear the loss of their sons, but this war still doesn’t stop.

The question remains are that why there is a silence against this violence, no voice raised for Afghans and no one takes responsibility? Don’t Afghans have red blood? Are they of other human species? Or do they have separate/different human rights with the rest of humankind?

No more war, bloodshed, violence, killing of women and children in Afghanistan! Enough is enough! 

If there is will for peace, then why there isn’t a ceasefire? Peace is still an ideal for the people of Afghanistan and it can only be found in words and phrases.

Attack on civilians is a war crime, it is no more acceptable for the people of Afghanistan, and people will hold accountable the perpetrators of these crimes.

To end the war and killings in Afghanistan and move towards sustainable peace, we demand:

• Ceasefire is the primary and urgent need in Afghanistan.
• We want the supporters and stakeholders of the Afghan peace process (Islamic countries, United States, European Union, Qatar, regional and neighboring countries) to put pressure on Taliban to agree upon a total ceasefire in Afghanistan, by any possible way.
• The agreement on a total ceasefire should be a precondition for peace negotiation for the Afghan government.
• The security institutions should make and implement effective and organized security plans to prevent security incidents, as providing security for citizens is the constitutional and primary duty of the government. They should also be very careful in pursuing and imprisoning the perpetrators of security incidents, the victims should be served with justice.
• We call on the government to prevent and control abusive propaganda that promotes extremism, violence and negatively changes the public mindset, collect illegal weapons and armed men through various educational institutions, information and culture, guidance, and security institutions should take urgent action by drawing up regular and sustainable national plans.
• Afghan women, the mothers, call upon the Taliban that as Afghan citizens, be responsible against the people. Afghans ask you to stop war and violence and for the survival of people and country accept the ceasefire and bring peace through negotiation.