Afghanistan Times
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AT Monitoring Desk
KABUL: US Chargé d’Affaires Karen Decker has encouraged Afghan youth to find their collective voice and take the lead to promote and safeguard the last 18-year progress made in their country.
“We respect the wisdom of Afghan elders, but we invest in Afghan youth. Now is the time for youth to find their collective voice and use it to promote and protect the progress of the past 18 years,” she said.
While hosting more than 120 Afghan youth leaders for an open forum to discuss the priorities of youth in the peace process, she said: “About 63 percent of Afghans are under the age of 25 and as such they are Afghanistan’s most important constituency.”
In his message, US Ambassador John Bass called on youth to engage. “Everyone can be part of the national conversation that informs the dialogue on peace, so you can have confidence that the people talking about your rights, your hopes, and your future, know what is important to you,” he said.
Moreover, US Special Envoy for Afghanistan Peace Process Zalmay Khalilzad, who just embarked in another peace tour for Afghan peace, also stressed the role of youth in the peace process through a video conference during his stay in Kabul.
