A poetry and literature festival titled “Wounds of War” was held in Kabul on Wednesday with the participation of some of Afghanistan’s prominent poets, writers and historians.

The festival was organized by the Afghanistan Human Rights and Democracy Organization.

Poets Ramin Mazhar, Hekmat Nazari and Jalal Nazari took first, second and third place, respectively, in the festival's poetry category.

“I hope that these festivals are not held only for awards and prizes. We need storytellers, because we remained silent in a way over the past four decades,” said Humaira Qaderi, a writer.

Participants, which included poets, writers and historians, told their stories of war.

“Your pen is your weapon, you must defend all human values, it is not like the Taliban who sing the story of a massacre,” said Kawah Jibran, a poet and writer.

The famous works read in the festival included Dastan-e-Marg Khawstan from Omid Haqbin, Utaq-e-115 from Estamatullah Kohzad, Tu Chi Fekr Mekoni Reza from Masooma Amiri, Tairhay-e-Karachi Chartayrah from Noor Mohammad and Dunyay-e-Mordaha from Reza Akhaz.

200 poets, writers, storytellers, historians and other literary figures participated in the festival.

Two books, named “Namekhawham O Khakestar Shawad” and “Mian-e-Do Enfejar,” were also introduced at the festival.