- For weeks, a growing group has walked from Helmand to neighboring provinces to聽mobilize public pressure on the government and the Taliban to end the war.聽
- The group plans to march to Kabul to pass on a proposal to the government, the UN and the US-led coalition. Most of the marchers have lost at least one family member to the war. 聽聽
KABUL: Under blistering sun, a group of fasting Afghans has been marching for peace for nearly a month, mobilizing people in villages and towns.
The 鈥淐onvoy of Peace鈥� was conceived in March by villagers in southern Helmand province, after more than a dozen people were killed when an explosives-laden vehicle went off during a wrestling match as part of Afghan new-year celebrations.
The villagers walked for nearly 200 km to talk with government commanders and Taliban members to agree to a truce.
When their message fell on deaf ears, they set up a sit-in tent, then began a nationwide march at the start of Ramadan.
Braving the heat and attacks, the group has marched from Helmand to the adjacent provinces of Kandahar, Zabul and Ghazni.
The route is part of a Taliban stronghold, and witnesses routine clashes between it and US-backed Afghan forces.
The marchers 鈥渉ave been welcomed by villagers who give them food, shelter and medical care,鈥� Roozi Mohammad Zabuli, a coordinator of civil society groups in Zabul, told Arab News.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e telling the people that peace is in the hands of ordinary people, and that they can achieve it by putting pressure on the warring sides. People are exhausted here and thirsty for peace, and have hailed the initiative.鈥�
The march began with seven people but now includes 50. One is a sports champion, another has a master鈥檚 degree, and two are physically disabled.
Sardar Mohammad re-joined the march after leaving to attend the funeral of his brother, who was killed in an attack in Kandahar. Most of the marchers have lost at least one family member to the war.
Hamidullah Tokhi, a lawmaker from Zabul, said the group prefers to avoid engaging with local authorities because it does not want to be seen to be favoring one side.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a big initiative. People are happy. You鈥檒l see a gradual but concrete impact on the minds of people that they have to take charge of their own destiny rather than wait for others to bring them peace,鈥� he told Arab News.
鈥淲e can call it the start of a revolution. Revolutions always begin with a small number of people and ambitious goals. They have the determination and will to work for peace.鈥�
Government officials and the Taliban endorse the march, saying they will support any move than can bring security to Afghanistan.
The marchers plan to head to Kabul to pass on a proposal to the government, the UN and the US-led coalition for a cease-fire, the establishment of an Islamic government that includes the Taliban, and a timetable for the withdrawal of foreign forces.
鈥淚f the two sides don鈥檛 accept our demands, we鈥檒l go to other provinces and tell people to join us and mount pressure on who鈥檚 at fault,鈥� Iqbal Khaibar, an organizer of the march, told Arab News.
In Kabul, 鈥渨e鈥檒l be telling the international community humbly: 鈥榃e鈥檙e human just like you. All our mothers are mourning here every day. Do your mothers and your blood differ from ours? Let us have peace鈥�,鈥� he added.
Zabuli said: 鈥淲hen there鈥檚 national pressure, foreign troops will pull out. We just need to give people the mentality that they have to stand and take charge of their lives and stop the war.鈥�
Khaibar said: 鈥淭he Taliban says foreign troops should leave then it鈥檒l talk with the government, while foreign troops say there should be peace then they鈥檒l leave. We have to find a solution to this, and that鈥檚 exactly what the marchers are after.鈥�