Some female members of the Afghan National Army (ANA) in the western parts of the country on Thursday called for the protection of women’s rights in the peace process.
They said that the role of women in the ranks of the Afghan security institutions must be significant in a potential peace agreement with the Taliban.
More broadly, they didn't want anyone to ignore the gains that the Afghan women have made in various aspects of life in the past two decades.
Amina joined the ANA four months ago and has completed training in various military fields.
She wants to become a general in the ANA in the future.
She said that the political system that will come out of a peace agreement between the Afghan government and the Taliban shouldn’t sacrifice the rights of the Afghan women.
“After the peace, we want that no one tries to restrict us. Like our brothers, we want to defend the country shoulder to shoulder,” said Fatima Shafahi, an ANA female officer in Herat.
“The system is not supposed to be only for men, we are here in the structure of the system and defend the nation along with our brothers. Our status must be protected in the system,” said Fatima, an ANA officer.
“You can't have a complete society without the women,” said Mariam Noorzai, an ANA officer.
Army officials in the west have said that the female soldiers and officers in the army have received professional training in various military units and are capable of participating in military operations.
“They have the capacity to conduct their duties against the enemies effectively, they are able to accomplish tasks during the search operations,” said Colonel Mohammad Nader Afzali, the commander of the training battalion of 207 Zafar Army Corps.
Women in Afghanistan have made great strides in various fields in the last two decades since the collapse of the Taliban regime.
But the start of peace talks between the government and the Taliban and the possibility of the inclusion of the next government have worried women that their activities will be restricted again.