Al-Sharq Stresses Urgent Need to Accelerate Steps for Comprehensive Peace in Afghanistan

Doha, July 01 (QNA) - Al-Sharq newspaper stressed in its editorial on Thursday that the situation that is developing in Afghanistan politically and in the field, with the withdrawal of foreign forces including the US and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), reflects the urgent need to accelerate the steps of a comprehensive and sustainable peace to meet the aspirations of the Afghan people, who are still suffering from the scourge of war and fighting. The newspaper said that with the continuation of the fighting between Taliban and the Afghan government forces, the risks of Afghanistan sliding into a civil war is escalating, pointing out that Afghans have no way but to move toward a political solution as the only option to resolve the Afghan crisis. The paper noted that the State of Qatar had presented important proposals to the parties, foremost of which is the need to agree on the role of mediation, to push forward stalled peace negotiations and reach a power-sharing arrangement before US-led foreign forces complete their exit by the deadline of September 11. In this context, the newspaper highlighted the position of the Chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Abdullah Abdullah, who stated that Afghanistan still gives priority to peace, which is clear by the presence of its negotiating team in Doha and the need for Qatar and the United Nations to act as mediators to advance the peace process forward. Al-Sharq concluded its editorial by saying that international and regional efforts can help Afghan leaders and negotiating parties to move forward in negotiating a settlement, but any comprehensive and sustainable historic peace agreement that responds to the hopes of the Afghan people falls primarily with the Afghan leaders themselves and whether they have the necessary political will to achieve that goal that the people aspire to. (QNA)