Consultative meeting of the negotiating team with the youth

A number of youth representatives met with Habiba Sarabi, Sharifa Zurmati Wardak and General Ayub Ansari, members of the negotiating team of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.
In the beginning, Habiba Sarabi, a member of the negotiating team, provided information about the team's activities and asked the youth present at the meeting to share their views and suggestions on peace talks.
Ms. Sarabi said there is a need for a mutual relationship between the negotiating team and the youth to share their views and opinions with the negotiating team at various stages.
Representatives of the youth announced their support for the peace process and the government's position in the peace talks, sharing their suggestions, views and questions with the negotiating team.
Participants called on the negotiating team to include young people in the peace talks and to ensure that their rights are not marginalized.
The young people emphasized the need to protect the national interests and values of the Afghan people and the government which was achieved in the past several years and called on the negotiating team to make the most of this opportunity.
They suggested that consultative teams be established and consulted with the negotiating team on an ongoing basis to ensure that the peace process is inclusive and that all strata are involved in the negotiations.
They requested the negotiating team not to limit the consultation process to Kabul.
Members of the negotiating team then answered questions and concerns from the youth present at the meeting.
Gen. Ayub Ansari assured the youth that the members of the negotiating team would defend the values of the Afghan people, national interests and the rights of the youth in the peace negotiations.
Mr. Ansari also said that the decisions of the negotiation process will be decided based on the mechanisms that are being proposed.
Referring to the full commitment of the negotiating team to bring peace, Sharifa Zurmati Wardak said that working for peace is the responsibility of all the people of Afghanistan and that all people need to play their part in this process.
She also said that the negotiating team would not be content to take the views of the people of Kabul province only and that the views of all people from all over Afghanistan would be congregated. She also stressed that work is underway to strengthen regional consensus for peace.
In response to a question, Habiba Sarabi said that the members of the negotiating team are fully prepared to start the peace negotiations. She also said that the negotiating team will bargain in the negotiations and the final decision will be made in consultation with the decision-making bodies.
She also pledged that the views of young people would be considered in the peace talks, but that young people need to mobilize public and put pressure to declare a ceasefire. 
The meeting was held following a series of consultative meetings of the negotiating team with various strata.