Dozens of religious scholars and civil society activists at a gathering in Kapisa province on Sunday called the current war “haram" (prohibited by Islamic law) and urged intra-Afghan peace talks.

The participants urged the government and the Taliban to sit together and talk about how to end the war.

“The war… is Haram, and no one is allowed to interpret it in their own way. They can’t say that the war is legitimate,” said Mirwais Karimi, head of Kapisa Ulema Council (religious scholars council).

“People should decide for themselves about bringing peace to the country,” said Hashmatullah Ishaqzada, head of civil society board in Kapisa.

The participants warned that peace talks will face a deadlock if both sides insist on their own demands.

“We want a durable peace. We want a peace that will favor Islam, the people and Afghanistan—we also want a ceasefire,” said Abdul Manan Haqqani, a religious scholar.

This comes as the Afghan government is insisting on a ceasefire, but the Taliban says it is considering a reduction in violence rather than a ceasefire.