The Helmand peace activists are working on a letter to be sent to the US Congress with a strong message to ask the American lawmakers to prioritize the issue of ending the war in Afghanistan.  

“In this letter, we will ask the US Congress to find a solution for taking Afghanistan out of this war by prioritizing Afghanistan in their agenda,” head of the movement, Iqbal Khyber, said.  

The activists chanted slogans on peace, reconciliation and an end to the war. 

Some women also joined the peace convoy.

Sima Gul and Spozhmai, two women from Mohammad Agha district in Logar province, who have lost their family members the conflicts, said they joined the campaign with the hope to ensure a lasting peace in the country. 

“War is enough. For how long you want to continue the war? People are suffering. Children are deprived of education. We are living in bad condition due to the war. How long you will continue this situation?” asked Spozhmai.

The activists said that representatives of the US embassy have asked them to start talks with US officials inside the diplomatic mission’s convoy. 

He said that however the activists have asked the embassy officials to meet with them outside the compound. 

“The people of Afghanistan are unhappy from the US officials and we will not talk to them. We ask the people of the United States to put pressure on their government to end the war in Afghanistan,” said Mohammad Nikzad, member of the peace convoy.

The activists meanwhile called on Afghans who live in the United States to pass on their message to the American people. 

The US embassy is the second diplomatic office where the peace convoy has staged sit-in protest. 

The activists have already sent a letter to the UN Secretary General António Guterres, asking him not to remain indifferent towards ending the ongoing war in Afghanistan. 

The letter states that the United Nations shall include the Afghan war on its top agenda. 

It has also asked the organization to put pressure on countries in the region to help Afghanistan in achieving an enduring peace.

Activists have said they will conduct similar protest in front of Iran, Pakistan and Russian embassies.

Initially, they launched a sit-in protest in Lashkargah city after a suicide bombing outside a stadium. About a month later, a group of eight protestors left Helmand on foot for Kabul, all the while spreading messages of peace.

The activists walked through towns and villages, crossed provinces and met with residents along the way. And as they progressed, so their numbers grew.

About 700km later, the group of eight had grown to an estimated 100.
Finally arriving in Kabul last week, they handed over demands for a ceasefire and peace to both the Afghan government and the Taliban.

The group gave the Taliban three days in which to answer and said if they failed to do so, they would embark on sit in protests outside diplomatic offices and missions in the capital.

The activists, whose ages range from 17 to 65, come from all walks of life and include students, athletes and farmers among others.