BALKH -- A number of religious scholars gathered Thursday (January 31) in Balkh Province to call on the Taliban to lay down their arms and enter into direct talks with the Afghan government, TOLOnews reported.
Showing a willingness for peace is a sign of surrender to the will of God and the Taliban should not fear joining the peace process, said the scholars.
The gathering came as both the United States and the Taliban cited "progress" during six-day talks in Doha, Qatar, earlier this month.
