Consultative meeting of members of the negotiating team with the Network of Emerging Leaders of Civil Society

In a series of consultative meetings of the negotiating team with different strata, Fawzia Koofi and Khalid Noor, on behalf of the team, met with the chairman and members of the Network of Emerging Leaders of Civil Society.

Fawzia Koofi, a member of the negotiating team, said that the meeting was held to get the opinion and suggestions of members of the Emerging Leaders Network.

Regarding the peace process, she said that the timing and complexity of the process creates the need for close communication and cooperation between the negotiating team and civil society organizations. Ms. Koofi also said that the team had worked on plans that would be finalized after receiving new comments and will be sent to the High Council for National Reconciliation and the government for approval.

Khalid Noor, another member of the negotiating team, while presenting information about the team's activities, said that they have held continuous consultative meetings with various groups in the past three months. He also said that during several meetings between team members, the content of the negotiations and the internal affairs of the team were discussed. He called on members of the network to share their views, suggestions and demands on the Afghanistan peace process.

Nazim Mazhar, head of the Network of Emerging Leaders of Civil Society, announced his readiness to work with the negotiating team by providing information on how the network works, and said that members of the network are willing to work with the negotiating team voluntarily.

Subsequently, members of the network shared their suggestions, comments, concerns and demands about the Afghan peace process with the negotiating team.

Emphasizing the presence and significant role of women and youth in the Afghan peace process, the members of the network said that it is necessary to create a negotiating consultative team and women, youth and ethnic and religious minorities should be present in it. In case of need, this team can cooperate with the negotiating team in providing consultation.

Emerging leaders of civil society also stressed the need for an inclusive peace process and suggested that the negotiating team hear the voices of the people from all parts of Afghanistan and that the consultations should not be limited to Kabul province only.

The declaration of a ceasefire was another point they emphasized on.

After hearing the comments and suggestions, the members of the negotiating team answered their questions and concerns and assured that during the negotiations, each member of the team will defend the national interests of the country.

It is worth mentioning that the negotiating team has previously also held consultative meetings with members of civil society organizations to get their opinions and suggestions.