A group of civil society activists and residents of Jawzjan province, in the north of Afghanistan, established a sit-in camp to support the peace campaign in Helmand and say no to violence and war.

According to local officials, at least five districts of Jawzjan are faced with high security threats.

The Jawzjan activists said Afghans are tired of war and that they call on the Taliban to join the peace process.

“My message to the opposition who has selected war is that they should come and join the peace process and the civil society will help them in achieving their legal demands,” Farzin Fahimi, a civil society activist in Jawzjan, said.

“Our goal is that we want peace. People are tired of war. Through this camp, we want to call on armed opposition groups to stop war and stop killing people,” Shogufa Awrin, an activist, said.

The activists meanwhile called on the Taliban to lay down their arms and share their demands through a negotiations process.

“We want to support Helmand residents by this move. People need peace. They want peace. We are tired of war and we want a lasting and a real peace,” said Ghulam Ali, an activist.

Members of the sit-in protest said they will continue their movement until their demands regarding peace are met by the Taliban. 

Last month, in a rare move, dozens of Helmand residents, including women, established a sit-in camp in Lashkargah City, with the hope to make happen a ceasefire between government forces and the Taliban in the province. The peace campaign was launched after a deadly attack in Helmand claimed dozens of lives.

People across Afghanistan recently expressed their support of the Helmand protestors – including lawmakers in the country’s parliament.