Peace deal must not sacrifice progress, says NRC chief

Monitoring Desk

KABUL: The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), supporting a negotiated settlement to the Afghan conflict, on Wednesday warned against sacrificing hard-won progress in the name of a peace deal.

Jan Egeland, secretary-general of the council, said: “As humanitarian workers in Afghanistan we welcome any negotiated solution that can end decades of conflict in Afghanistan.”

In a statement, Egeland acknowledged there was no military solution to this bitter conflict. “Now is not the time to rush an exit strategy in which the Afghan people may be worse off than they were before.”

An end to the armed conflict among men must not come at the expense of Afghan women and children, he stressed, as foreign forces and representations have been withdrawing from Afghanistan.

He questioned NATO’s narrative of progress and that it was leaving Afghanistan as a safe and secure country. The rhetoric was misplaced as high levels of violence and displacement continued, he claimed.

Negotiations should seek an end to the war and ensure aid workers could continue to deliver assistance to the millions of women, children and men still in urgent need of protection and education, he added.

“Negotiations must include specific agreements whereby aid actors are given the space, safety and support we need to reach people in need. No compromise should be made jeopardising civilians’ access to protection and aid…” (Pajhwok)