1. Civil society activist Ahmad Javed Siddiqui:
No doubt, peace is the need of the hour but our leaders are pursuing the process like a project. The officials concerned have not been sincere, knowing little about popular aspirations.
2. Schoolteacher Abdur Rahman Hijran:
Reconciliation is a reciprocal gesture, involving give and take. Our peace council comprises individuals who are neither acceptable to the masses nor to the insurgents. How can they manage to bring about peace?
3. Government servant Mohammad Abed:
A nation known for quid pro quo and negotiations, the Afghans can talk out their issues. But the US and some meighbours are opposed to peace in our homeland, because stability will obviate the need for foreign meddling.
4. Shopkeeper Siffatullah:
We direly need security, whose absence has left us impoverished, displacement and helplessness. A bomb blast some years ago ruined our shops in Maidan Shahr some years ago. This destruction would have been avoidable in peacetime.
5. Jalrez resident Adam Khan Hotak:
Peace is a blessing, for humans as well as animals. There have been propitious rains after fighting led to drought in the province.
6. Afghan Local Police member Gul Wali:
If there is no need for peace, why would I pick up weapons? War causes unemployment, forcing youth like me to drop out of school and take up jobs.
7. University student Ismatullah:
Peace has many benefits. Look at our province, where no reconstruction schemes have been executed in Jaghatu district. On the other hand, development projects have been enforced in Maidan Shahr, Behsud and Jalrez just because they are peaceful districts..
8. Behsud dweller Daud Hussaini:
All people demand peace, security and reconstruction. People would exchange more visits in the presence of stability that will enable youth to focus on education. One harrowing instance of terror happened recently in Jalrez. The provincial government is not sincere in restoring security.
9. Local reporter Najibullah Fikarman:
The peace process has been a big failure, costing a lot of money. The council is not manned by the right people. In our province, not even 10 fighters have joined the peace process. If this amount is paid to the insurgents, they will renounce violence.
10. Civil society activist and analyst Safiullah Amarkhel:
There are many hurdles to peace, as the situation in the region has been fluid. Residents were previously optimistic about peace but now the mood has become despondent. Good relations with China, Pakistan, Central Asian states and others are a positive policy. The stalled process has raised disturbing questions.
11. Schoolteacher Moska Mayar:
Women in our province have been deprived of basic facilities and the absence of peace has further complicated their plight. They can serve the nation, but their education needs peace. The number of girls’ schools in the province is too low because of insecurity.
