The People’s Peace Movement, a group of 24 peace activists who marched through Taliban-controlled Musa Qala district in Helmand province, said the militants rejected their call for ceasefire as they see it in favor of foreign forces in Afghanistan.
During the five-day stay in Taliban territory, activists came up quoting the militants as saying “peace is not possible without a timeline for foreign forces withdrawal”.
“They (Taliban) said that if they announce a ceasefire, it will give a chance to the Americans to use the time and intensify the war. They (Taliban) said they will make peace, but first the occupation should end,” said Iqbal Khyber, head of the People’s Peace Movement, as quoted by local media.
“The Taliban insisted that an intra-Afghan dialogue is impossible without a timetable for troop withdrawal,” he added.
Meanwhile, another member of the movement, Ghulam Sarwar Ghaffari, said the Taliban did not have a reason for rejecting the peace activists’ demand for a ceasefire.
A previous report suggested the Taliban have captured at least four of the peace movement, but marchers rejected the report, saying they held talks with the Taliban on issues around peace.
According to the Khaybar, the activists were hosted by the Taliban; but the rumors circulating in social media – which claimed they were abducted by the militants – had hardened the situation for talks.
The People’s Peace Movement (also the Helmand Peace Convoy) initially started their activities when a group of at least a dozen activists staged a protest in Lashkargah City in March 2018 against an attack that killed around 16 people that month.
About a month later, the activists left Helmand on foot for Kabul.
[Earlier: ‘Taliban Capture 4 of Peace Movement’]
HELMAND (The Killid) – The Taliban captured at least four members of the peace movement in Musa Qala district of Helmand province, local officials confirmed.
Members of the movement said the Taliban have taken four of their pairs for advice and consultation.
Pachakhan Mulladad, communication and information officer of the movement, explained the Taliban intruded their residents and took at least four, as they were about to break fasting in the evening.
Although he did not confirmed whether or not the Taliban imposed forces; but Zainullah Stanikzai, a local writer and journalist, said it will affect the peace process if the Taliban really took members away forcefully.
It comes as the movement marched through the Lashkar Gah city and was heading to Mosa Qala district of the province – which is pre-dominated by Talbian – urging for peace and stability.
Meanwhile, Zabiullah Mojahed, Spokesman for the Taliban, earlier said they would not allow the movement to pass through the areas under control of the group.
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