Presidential candidate in incumbent President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani at a campaign rally in Kabul on Monday said Afghan women will determine the boundaries for peace and that there will be no compromise on women’s rights in peace negotiations.

Mr. Ghani said he will establish a women’s council which will have similar authorities to the National Security Council if he is re-elected.

He also vowed to boost women’s role in the government.

“We will support women empowerment through domestic resources, not through foreign charity,” Mr. Ghani said.

He reiterated that the presidential election will be held on its scheduled time.

The women, who attended the gathering, said they will support such plans for women by Mr. Ghani.

Anarkali Honaryar, a Senator, suggested that women in remote areas should be supported and that their areas should be visited within the next five years.

“On behalf of women in this hall, I call for a large presence of women in future government and in the election,” a women’s rights activist Arifa Paikan said.

So far, six out of 18 presidential candidates have launched their campaign rallies while others have not held a public gathering since the start of the election campaign on July 28.