People in various parts of the country called the warring parties on Friday to seize the momentum for peace and avert what they described it the deadly conflict in the country. 

Ordinary Afghans who make up the main victims of the conflict also urged the country’s political leaders to deal with the peace process from a united front and avoid preferring their personal agendas. 

They also said that the gains that Afghanistan has made in its strides towards democracy in the past 20 years should not be compromised in the talks. 

Abdul and Toorqul, two residents of Samangan who are in their 60s, said they have been witnessing the country in conflict over the past forty years. They expressed their hope that the upcoming talks in Turkey will help to restore peace in Afghanistan. 

“We pray that there is peace and security in our country,” Abdul Ghafoor said. 

“Everything is under politicians' control. Everything depends on them,” Toorqul said. 

Afghans expect that the upcoming UN-led conference in Turkey will ensure that human rights, women’s rights, freedom of speech and other gains of the last two decades are preserved if there is a peace deal. 

“We hope that peace is established in the country along with the preservation of the Afghans’ achievements,” said Masooma, a student in Kabul. “People will never endorse and imposed peace.” 

“We call on the international community and the politicians to change their policy and think about peace for the Afghan people,” said Mohammad Ibrahim, a Kabul resident.