Tuesday February 9, 2016
Kabul (BNA) Presidential deputy spokesman says efforts are underway for peace talks and bringing lasting peace in 2016.
Speaking to journalists in a news conference yesterday, Presidential deputy spokesman Sayed Zafar Hashimi said, “President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is personally following peace process stage by stage and trying that lasting peace is maintained in the country where our people see tranquility.” Hashimi asserted that the fourth round of quadrilateral session between Kabul, Islamabad, Washington and China would be held in few coming days in Kabul, adding that the session would try to specify primary round of Afghanistan peace talks. According to the Presidential deputy spokesman, Afghanistan government’s stance is clear in connection with those who want peace and join peace talks according to the country’s constitution so that lasting and durable peace is maintained in the country, but the government’s stance is also clear against those who continuing violence in the country.
Efforts for bringing lasting peace in 2016 is seriously followed by the government of Afghanistan and there are hopes in this regard, but a number of US high-ranking military officials and some NATO member countries have considered 2016 as critical year. They said in case that the number of the international forces was cut down and Afghanistan security forces would not be funded and equipped, the country would face security challenges and threats of terrorist groups. Nevertheless, the Presidential deputy spokesman considered 2016 as a year for making effort towards bringing lasting peace in the country. Hashimi stressed that the year 2015 had been really a year when the country was facing with security threats, but preparations for defending the country against the enemies had been already taken and the country’s security organs have proved their capabilities to the world and saved the country from security threats and crisis. Therefore, they named the year 2015 as a year of perpetuity for Afghanistan and the people of Afghanistan, he said. The Presidential deputy spokesman once again insisted that the year 2016 would be a year of lasting peace for the people of Afghanistan, while the country’s security forces were currently engaged in fighting against armed insurgents in dozens of fronts and defending the country.
