Include women in Afghan peace process: Ambassador Stefano Pontecorvo

Newswire

Kabul: NATO Senior Civilian Representative to Afghanistan Ambassador Stefano Pontecorvo has said there was a need for inclusion of Afghan women’s views in the peace process.

He said the future of Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) will be one of the most pressing issues in the peace negotiations with the Taliban, suggesting that there was a need for more inclusive talks in this regard.

“Afghans will only feel secure when they are responsible for their own security,” Pontecorvo said. “Regional actors should also recognize that the region will be more secure if post-peace security structures are determined by the Afghans in the negotiating table.”

He also said that “capable Afghan security forces give republic leaders the confidence to negotiate in the political space to maneuver at the negotiating table.”