Saudi Arabia is set to host two meetings of religious scholars from the Islamic world to explore ways of bringing peace and stability to the war-torn country.

Deputy Head of High Peace Council (HPC) Maulvi Attaur Rahman Saleem made this announcement at a meeting with representatives of civil society, women and youth in Mazar-i-Sharif on Saturday.

He said the three-day ceasefire during Eid proved the Afghans were tired of war and urgently needed peace. He slammed the ongoing conflict as an international game imposed on the Afghans.

Without going into details, he informed they had been in contact with leadership of Taliban, who had shown their willingness to begin peace talks with the government.

The HPC official added Saudi Arabia would host meetings on the Afghan war and peace on July 10 and 11. Ulema from Islamic countries would take part in the events.

The meetings would be monitored by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), he said, urging all Afghans to do their best to help end the conflict in their country.

Saleem acknowledged the government and HPC had some flaws in the past. He asked the countrymen to share with the panel their suggestions for a permanent end to the war.

The militants had no reason for continuation of war, he believed, if the fighters wanted withdrawal of foreign troops, the official argued, should put the demand on the negotiating table.

He claimed regional and international consensus had been forged on ending the war in Afghanistan. Some regional countries stoutly supported the Afghan peace process, he continued.

Bashari Tawhidi, Balkh’s deputy governor, also emphasised the end to the conflict and said no one could benefit from war.

Civil society activists urged the warring parties to put an end to the conflict and join peace negotiations at the earliest possible in the best national interest.

SOURCE : ALBILAD