The Afghan government has not paid the salaries of some of the soldiers who are currently deployed to secure the Loya Jirga, which is currently underway in Kabul, according to the soldiers. The government has allocated 330 million Afs for the Jirga.

“Although our salaries are paid on a monthly basis, this time one-and-a-half months has passed and are salaries have not been paid,” said Toofa, a soldier deployed in PD5 in Kabul for security of the Loya Jirga.

Despite having not been paid, the Afghan security forces are determined to defend their country and people.

“We always work hard to provide security to our people so that they can live in peace and security,” said Fayaz, a member of the Afghan National Police (ANP).

Meanwhile, some other soldiers expressed hope that peace will be restored in the country in the near future.

“They (Taliban) must come and make peace, they should stop further bloodshed and violence, they must abandon their slavery by outsiders and come to build Afghanistan, they should stop killing the people and the youth,” said Amrullah, an instructor at Marshal Fahim Military University.

“We have been deployed here for the past three days, we have established checkpoints here, I pray to God that peace comes soon,” said Samimurrahman, an officer of the Afghan National Army (ANA).

The Loya Jirga, which has brought together 3,200 delegates from across Afghanistan, will discuss the release of 400 Taliban prisoners.

Meanwhile, a number of Afghan citizens have expressed hope that the Taliban enters into peace talks with the government to end the ongoing conflict in the country.

“There are prisoners among them who are our own citizens, there is a need for a positive approach towards them, if there are foreign nationals among them, then it will be difficult,” said a resident in Kabul Abdul Rahman.

Some citizens have criticized the jirga:

“They are investing 330 million Afs for the release of 400 Taliban prisoners, but we are living below the poverty line, this is not the right thing to do,” said Hashmatullah, a resident in Kabul.