KABUL - Chief Executive Officer Dr. Abdullah Abdullahon Monday asked the Taliban to stop using children as soldiers in the ongoing conflict in the country.
The national unity government was pursuing a zero-tolerance policy on child soldiers, he told a ceremony marking the 27th anniversary of the Soviet military withdrawal from Afghanistan.
While asking the insurgent movement to join the peace process, the CEO reiterated: "We won’t tolerate the use of children for military purposes.”
About the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan from 1979 to 1989, he said the repercussions of the war still continued to linger on. "We are suffering from the aftermath of the Soviet defeat in the form of widespread insecurity."
Hailing the jihad against the Soviet troops as a great achievement of the entire Afghan nation, he suggested it would be wrong to ascribe that victory to a handful of individuals.
Hundreds of thousands of Afghans were killed during the war that forced millions to migrate to other countries, the CEO recalled, regretting the country remained in the grip of conflict even today.
Abdullah made clear all Afghans desired peace with dignity. Afghanistan, being a peace-loving nation, never committed aggression against country in the region.
"We are trying to achieve peace and stability. People's role in the peace process is vital. Mujahideen can help us realize this objective," remarked the former foreign minister.
Speaking on the occasion, ex-president Sibghatullah Mujaddedi paid glowing tribute to the martyrs and eulogised the holy warriors for their religious spirit and patriotism.
In the same breath, he lambasted Pakistan for interfering in Afghanistan’s internal affairs and aiding the Taliban as well as other militant organisations. (Pajhwok)