KABUL, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- War-weary Afghans pin their hopes for return of peace on ongoing national and international efforts to initiate a political settlement for the war-battered country's lingering crisis.
"Afghans are suffering from daily violence, fighting on the grounds and terrorist attacks in the cities. I hope the latest efforts for peace negotiations lead to a peace settlement and put an end to the ongoing violence," resident Ahmad Fahim told Xinhua on Saturday.
Earlier this month, an Afghan government delegation and Taliban representatives participated in a meeting on Afghanistan in Russia, in the latest diplomatic efforts to push for political solution to the Afghan conflict.
"I hope the peace talks take place as soon as possible as we are fed up with war, bombings and clashes. Thousands of innocent lives have been lost during the past years," he said.
He added that Afghans were firmly supporting the government in its inclusive peace and reconciliation process with Taliban, "but so far no tangible results have been seen. Now hopes are high to see early realization of lasting peace, stability and development in Afghanistan,"
A local mechanic, Farhad Gardizi, echoed Fahim for calling for more efforts to ensure peace and stability.
"I want the international community and the countries in the region to honestly take immediate actions for creating constructive conditions for peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan," Gardizi told Xinhua.
"I hope that all Afghan armed opposition groups take part in the latest peace efforts and people are urging them to participate in the reconciliation process with Afghan government," he said.
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and other Afghan leaders have repeatedly offered peace talks with the Taliban.
"Afghanistan has a better chance of finding peace than it has for many years, with more coordination in international peace efforts and willingness to include all parties," local media Daily Outlook Afghanistan quoted UN humanitarian official Toby Lanzer as saying.
"It is shared responsibility of all countries in the region and countries which have contacts with the Taliban to bring them to the negotiating table," Gardizi said.
His comments came as the ongoing war and conflict have affected the lives of millions of Afghans.
Afghan civilians continue to bear the brunt of the armed conflicts, as more than 2,790 civilians were killed and over 5,250 others injured in conflict-related incidents in the first nine months of this year, according to figures released by the United Nations mission in the country.
