LASHKARGAH - The Taliban have welcomed a peace movement initiated by the people of southern Helmand province, but say “the keys of Afghan war are in the US hands.”
Five days back, a suicide bombing near Ghazi Mohammad Ayub Khan playground killed tens of people and injured scores of others including children who had been watching a wresting game.
The next day, some youth gathered in the area and established a tent to initiate a campaign for peace in the country. Some women followed suit and established a separate tent demanding peace and stability.
The sit-ins participants say they would send some individuals to Musa Qala district for talks with the Taliban.
Taliban spokesman Qari Yousuf Ahmadi told Radio Shariat that the Taliban welcomed Helmandis’ peace efforts.
He said: “Those seeking peace should first go to Kandahar Airport and Shorab base and convince the Americans for peace because the keys of Afghan war are with the US.”
The US and the Afghan government continued to use fighter jets for bombardments on people, he said. He said people’s neutral efforts for peace should be appreciated.
Also in a statement, the Taliban said “peace is the huge dream and a long-standing demand of every Afghan.”
The statement said the Taliban had been “forced” to fight and the US could put an end to the ongoing firefight.
The Taliban also warned the peace activists against being used by intelligence networks, saying such a case “if any unfortunate incident takes place, the responsibility would be on the organizers of the tents.”
““It is not a fight for material interest, but the fight between Islam and Kufar and taking this fight to the conclusion is the duty of every Muslim.”(Pajhwok)