NANGARHAR: Several religious scholars and tribal elders in eastern Nangarhar province have called on the Afghan government and the Taliban to declare a ceasefire at once.

Mawlawi Habibullah Jalalabadi, head of the Nangarhar Ulema Council, said that peace was an urgent necessity for Afghans, adding “people are counting down the days to peace but the warring sides haven’t yet agreed on a ceasefire in Qatar.”

Tribal elder Malik Zalmai Sherzad called on the warring sides in Doha to work for a permanent ceasefire and a lasting peace, for which Afghans were still optimistic.

Another tribal elder, Malik Nangyali, said that warring sides should think beyond their demands and pave the way for a ceasefire and peace for the sake of widows, orphans, and the oppressed Afghan nation.

Behsud district governer Ghalib Mujahid said that he had stayed with some members of the Taliban delegation at Guantanamo prison and were keenly interested in peace.