TOLOnews’ Tamim Hamid visited a restaurant in Kabul where people from different ethnicities sat together eating in one room. Those interviewed said their main demand is a safe, secure environment so that they can enjoy their time with their friends and families, far from any security tensions.

“We hope that there is good security, good businesses and a safe environment in which people can easily come together and spend their time,” said Mohammad Asif, owner of a restaurant.

“The ordinary Afghans are not thinking about their religious or ethnic differences. Everyone is living in a brotherly way,” said Zalmay Amin, a Kabul resident.

Asim, 50, a Kabul resident, said he uses every opportunity to meet his friends and that they are from different ethnic groups of the country, but they live together with solidarity and patience.

“All of us demand an environment in which people can freely go out and have food at restaurants with their friends,” Asim said.

Two young architects who visited the restaurant said the war and other efforts caused in part by “some groups both inside and outside the country.”

“Our hope is a secure environment so that we can sit together with our friends with a calm mind,” said Rahmat Faryabi, a Kabul resident.

“Some are on one side of the war and some are on the other. All of these are because of poverty. Therefore, peace is the main need for the country,” said Ahmad Milad Nasiri, a Kabul resident.

The remarks by the Kabul residents come amid the ongoing negotiations in Doha that have made slow progress over the last 10 days despite meetings between the contact groups of both sides.

The two sides are discussing 20-article rules and regulations for the peace negotiations. The two contact groups are expected to hold more meetings this week to finalize the procedure and then work on the agenda for the talks.