Activists in Kandahar have called for religious scholars, Ulema, and local residents to raise their voices through mosques and local communities in support of peace.
The Kandahar peace convoy will soon travel to villages to garner support among the people and to call for religious scholars to send out messages of peace through mosques, one organizer of the movement said.
Civil society activists, tribal elders and residents attended the peace camp in Kandahar city.
“This is peace. This is peace on an Afghanistan level. This message should be delivered to all people in Kandahar. The people in Kandahar will have a big impact in this process,” an activist said.
“Those who have been deceived are from amongst us; whoever they are, we should all realize what we want now is peace,” a tribal elder said.
Members of the peace campaign said cooperation of Imams at mosques in villages would be effective.
“We are supporting this campaign with our hearts and minds. Peace is a necessity, a must (for the country),” a resident said.
The first sit-in camp was launched in Helmand province last month in protest over a deadly suicide bombing at a stadium. Three more sit-in camps were then set up in other parts of Helmand.
The move however has since gained support across the country and other camps have been established in Balkh, Nangarhar, Farah, Herat and Kandahar provinces.
Organizers of the Helmand peace campaign said the move is aimed at ending the war through civic action. They said the campaign is at the initiative of the people and that no government entities are involved.
The peace activists are calling for a ceasefire between government forces and the Taliban in order for the country to move towards peace and stability.