Afghans in various regions of the country on Friday called on the Afghan government and the Taliban to swiftly engage in intra-Afghan negotiations and take bold steps to end the bloody conflict that has gripped the nation for the past two decades.  

Sayed Abdul Basir Kazimi an Afghan youth who migrated to the US a decade ago to escape the war in his home country expressed his hope that this time the talks would have a good outcome so that he can repatriate to Afghanistan permanently.

“Today, the Afghan government and the Taliban have humanitarian and religious obligation to respond to the aspiration of the people and put an end to the war and violence,” said Kazimi.

“The Afghan people are tired of the war. They want a lasting and real peace,” said Mohammad Hamid, a resident of Herat.

Afghans also expect their political leaders to come together because unity among the country’s political elites will help them engage in purposeful negotiation talks with the Taliban.

“The important point is that Ghani and Abdullah first need to make peace with themselves,” said Jahanzeb, a resident of Kabul.

“They (Ghani and Abdullah) are not reaching a consensus among themselves, so they will not agree about us and the Taliban. They sit with an American. I think all these episodes are to mislead the people,” said Sorosh Shahidzada, a Kabul resident.

This comes as the negotiating teams from the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the Taliban are preparing to attend peace talks in Doha.