PESHAWAR: The Awami National Party has welcomed the US decision to withdraw troops from Afghanistan in September this year, and stressed the need for complete ceasefire to bring an end to the prolonged bloodshed in the war-torn country.

In a statement issued here on Friday, ANP president Asfandyar Wali Khan appreciated the US President Joe Biden’s announcement of troops’ withdrawal and expressed the hope that all stakeholders would sit together to decide future line of action for restoration of durable peace in the country.

He said it was need of the hour to bring an end to the four-decade-long war in Afghanistan which had led to killing and displacement of millions of citizens.

The ANP chief said Afghan-owned and Afghan-led peace negotiations were the only solution to ending the prolonged war there. He also appreciated the Afghanistan government’s stand that its forces would fully defend their soil.

Mr Asfandyar said peace in Afghanistan would guarantee peace in the entire region.

Published in Dawn, April 17th, 2021