A survey by the Institute of War and Peace Studies (IWPS) shows that over 57 percent of surveyed Afghans are optimistic that the ongoing negotiations between the Afghan Republic and the Taliban teams in Doha will lead the country to a lasting peace.
According to IWPS, from 8,627 respondents, 58.1% are men and 4.9% are women. The survey respondents’ residence has been divided into two categories of rural and urban. The IWPS says 52.75 percent of the respondents are residents of rural areas while 47.25 percent live in urban areas.
The Afghan People’s Peace Perception Survey is a third its kind that shows 15 percent of the respondents have no hope about the ongoing talks in Doha.
The survey shows that 75.8 percent of the respondents believe that the Afghan government should take ceasefire as a priority in the peace negotiations in Doha. Meanwhile, 58.55 percent of the respondents have said that the government represents them in the peace process.
The survey reveals that 74.24 percent of the respondents think that the level of violence in the country has not reduced since the start of the peace negotiations in Doha—on September 12.
Also, 63.63 percent of the respondents have rejected that the Taliban should lead and dictate comprehensive changes in the defense and security sector, the survey shows.
Meanwhile, 14.58 percent of the respondents have said that the level of violence has reduced in the country after the start of the talks in Doha.
When it comes to the respondents’ views on the country’s political system as a result of a peace deal, the survey shows that 25.5 of the respondents have voted for equal distribution of power, 25.2 percent voted for the protection of the republic system, 20.6 percent of the respondents voted for early elections, and 5.9 percent voted for the return of the Taliban’s emirate.
The survey shows that 21 percent of the respondents believe that the government should not compromise on the achievements of the last two decades, including freedom of expression, women and minorities’ rights, political system and prosecution of war criminals.
The survey reveals that 63.63 percent of the respondents opposed any major change in the structure of the Afghan National Security and Defense Forces (ANDSF) while 22.24 percent said they are in favor of bringing change in these forces.
Addressing an event on the survey, Assadullah Saadati, the deputy head of the High Council of National Reconciliation (HCNR) said the Taliban’s opposition to human rights and the rights of the citizens of Afghanistan complicates the peace process and that they should change their ideology and accept the republic system.
“We want to take the peace narrative and peacebuilding from the elites to villages and towns of Afghanistan,” said Tamim Asey, director of the Institute of War and Peace Studies.
The survey shows that the respondents have described the role of Abdullah Abdullah, chairman of the High Council of National Reconciliation, as effective as the role of President Ashraf Ghani.
“The continuation of violence has not justification. It only poses threats to the peace process, creates mistrust on the process, and brings further suffering of the Afghan people,” said Sayed Saadat Mansour Nadery, the State Minister on Peace Affairs.
When asked, which authority should approve the outcomes and decisions in Doha negotiations, 27.43 percent of the respondents voted for the High Council of National Reconciliation, 27.4 percent said that the Afghan people through a referendum, and 16.22 percent said that they should be approved through a Loya Jirga, a grand council.
“We should realize that a lasting peace in Afghanistan is related to the scale of public support about peace,” said former MP Shahgul Rezaee.
The survey shows that 78.18 percent of the respondents have said that they prefer to call the leader of the country “president” while 6.83 percent of them have said they will prefer to call the leader of the country as Amir-Ul-Muminin.