Serious efforts needed for peace: Stanikzai

KANDAHAR CITY (Pajhwok): High Peace Council (HPC) Secretary Masoom Stanikzai on Sunday underlined the need for serious efforts for promoting the reconciliation process in the country.

During a visit to this southern province, Stanikzai met the acting governor and provincial peace council members. Samim Khpalwak, the governor’s spokesman, said the top officials discussed issues like security and poppy cultivation.

Stanikzai said security had improved in Kandahar, evidence of an understanding between the people and the government. However, he stressed the peace process should be accelerated to avoid further bloodshed.

The HPC secretary instructed judicial organs to thoroughly investigate cases of insurgents who had been released and were fighting against government forces. Those inmates who have been imprisoned without enough evidence should also be released, he added.

Dr. Toryalai Weesa, the acting governor, said a lot was needed to be done for the peace process to succeed. He said poppy cultivation was a major source of Taliban’s income.

If their funding source was not eliminated with a sense of urgency, the insurgents would not be ready for peace negotiations, said Stanikzai, whose visit comes at a time of intensifying attacks.

hg/mud

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