Hundreds of Afghans, weary of war and unsure of the future, have joined a letter-writing campaign to share their feelings with the powerful few who will decide on peace with the Taliban and, with it, the fate of their country.

The letters from different parts of Afghanistan express a tangled mix of confusion, resignation and fear.

"I live in grief but I smile. People think I am brave but I have no choice," wrote one unidentified person.

The letters, part of a project called Dard-e-Dil (a painful heart) are addressed to US diplomats, the Taliban and government officials.

They are being written as high-level talks are underway to find a political settlement to end a war that has raged on for 18 years.

"I am writing with a hope that we have a better life in Kabul, we live amidst so much tension, I can do nothing to change the situation but I am still writing," wrote another person from the Afghan capital.

The Dard-e-Dil project aims to give ordinary people an outlet to express their feelings at a time when the peace talks among top officials dominate politics, even though the fighting has not subsided.

"The prevailing political uncertainty is clearly the most nerve-racking phase for Afghans, most of us are already battling depression and mental health issues," said artist Omaid Sharifi, who organised the project.

Sharifi's interest in expressing the feelings aroused by the conflict goes back to his work with ArtLords, an art collective he co-founded that has become famous for the dramatic murals it has painted on grim concrete blast walls around Kabul.

His team has installed special letterboxes outside cafes, educational centres, hospitals and government offices, encouraging people to try to deal with their anxieties and voice their opinions about the peace talks in letters.

The letters are sorted at the ArtLords studio with the aim of sending them on to government authorities, diplomats and the leaders of the insurgency.

More important, though, is the need to help people tell their stories, a basic requirement for mental health, said Sharifi, who struggled with anxiety for years.

"Everyone has a right to narrate their story. Some of these stories will highlight and reveal human rights abuses and some will offer hope and solidarity," he said.

'Silent war'

Afghanistan has been devastated by decades of war, stretching back to the conflict with the former Soviet Union from late 1979.

Violence, instability and poverty have touched virtually every family and many Afghans suffer from mental health problems. However, facilities for treating such illnesses are scarce.

Wahid Mayar, a spokesman for the public health ministry, estimated that about half of the population will experience mental stress during their lifetime, a consequence of war often overshadowed by daily struggles.

"The suffering of mental illness in Afghanistan is a silent war. If peace comes then we will have to accept the new normal, but currently we are in a phase of tremendous uncertainty," Mayar said.

"The prospect of peace brings hope and anxiety. We wonder can peace ever come to embrace us, to calm our minds," he said.

Accurate data on mental health is not available in Afghanistan but the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates more than a million Afghans suffer from depressive disorders and more than 1.2 million from anxiety disorders.

The WHO says the actual numbers are likely much higher.

Nobody expects the letter-writing campaign to heal the wounds of more than four decades of conflict but it may allow at least some people to start working through their fears and prepare for an uncertain future.

"There are times when I want to run away from my country and then I think I should wait for peace and plan my life here," wrote one person.

"Kabul is always the best place to be." 
&nbsp;

Hundreds of Afghans, weary of war and unsure of the future, have joined a letter-writing campaign to share their feelings with the powerful few who will decide on peace with the Taliban and, with it, the fate of their country.

Hundreds of Afghans, weary of war and unsure of the future, have joined a letter-writing campaign to share their feelings with the powerful few who will decide on peace with the Taliban and, with it, the fate of their country. The letters from different parts of Afghanistan express a tangled mix of confusion, resignation and fear. "I live in grief but I smile. People think I am brave but I have no choice," wrote one unidentified person. The letters, part of a project called Dard-e-Dil (a painful heart) are addressed to US diplomats, the Taliban and government officials. They are being written as high-level talks are underway to find a political settlement to end a war that has raged on for 18 years. "I am writing with a hope that we have a better life in Kabul, we live amidst so much tension, I can do nothing to change the situation but I am still writing," wrote another person from the Afghan capital. The Dard-e-Dil project aims to give ordinary people an outlet to express their feelings at a time when the peace talks among top officials dominate politics, even though the fighting has not subsided. "The prevailing political uncertainty is clearly the most nerve-racking phase for Afghans, most of us are already battling depression and mental health issues," said artist Omaid Sharifi, who organised the project. Sharifi's interest in expressing the feelings aroused by the conflict goes back to his work with ArtLords, an art collective he co-founded that has become famous for the dramatic murals it has painted on grim concrete blast walls around Kabul. His team has installed special letterboxes outside cafes, educational centres, hospitals and government offices, encouraging people to try to deal with their anxieties and voice their opinions about the peace talks in letters. The letters are sorted at the ArtLords studio with the aim of sending them on to government authorities, diplomats and the leaders of the insurgency. More important, though, is the need to help people tell their stories, a basic requirement for mental health, said Sharifi, who struggled with anxiety for years. "Everyone has a right to narrate their story. Some of these stories will highlight and reveal human rights abuses and some will offer hope and solidarity," he said. 'Silent war' Afghanistan has been devastated by decades of war, stretching back to the conflict with the former Soviet Union from late 1979. Violence, instability and poverty have touched virtually every family and many Afghans suffer from mental health problems. However, facilities for treating such illnesses are scarce. Wahid Mayar, a spokesman for the public health ministry, estimated that about half of the population will experience mental stress during their lifetime, a consequence of war often overshadowed by daily struggles. "The suffering of mental illness in Afghanistan is a silent war. If peace comes then we will have to accept the new normal, but currently we are in a phase of tremendous uncertainty," Mayar said. "The prospect of peace brings hope and anxiety. We wonder can peace ever come to embrace us, to calm our minds," he said. Accurate data on mental health is not available in Afghanistan but the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates more than a million Afghans suffer from depressive disorders and more than 1.2 million from anxiety disorders. The WHO says the actual numbers are likely much higher. Nobody expects the letter-writing campaign to heal the wounds of more than four decades of conflict but it may allow at least some people to start working through their fears and prepare for an uncertain future. "There are times when I want to run away from my country and then I think I should wait for peace and plan my life here," wrote one person. "Kabul is always the best place to be."

Letterbox campaign helps Afghans cope with silent war of mental health

Britain on Monday announced a new 170 million-pound ($215 million) five-year aid package of urgent food, water and medicine assistance for people in Afghanistan.

"The humanitarian need in Afghanistan is severe," International Development Secretary Rory Stewart said after meeting Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in London.

"Fighting and extreme drought have left millions of people hungry and desperately seeking medical help, which is why UK aid is responding with life-saving food, water and basic healthcare, including polio vaccinations."

An estimated 13.5 million Afghans need humanitarian aid to ensure there is enough food for themselves and their families, Britain's development ministry said.

Britain on Monday announced a new 170 million-pound ($215 million) five-year aid package of urgent food, water and medicine assistance for people in Afghanistan.

Britain on Monday announced a new 170 million-pound ($215 million) five-year aid package of urgent food, water and medicine assistance for people in Afghanistan. "The humanitarian need in Afghanistan is severe," International Development Secretary Rory Stewart said after meeting Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in London. "Fighting and extreme drought have left millions of people hungry and desperately seeking medical help, which is why UK aid is responding with life-saving food, water and basic healthcare, including polio vaccinations." An estimated 13.5 million Afghans need humanitarian aid to ensure there is enough food for themselves and their families, Britain's development ministry said.

UK announces $215 million food, water and medical help for Afghanistan

Pakistan's internal assessment about the future of Afghanistan sees the neighbouring country engulfed in a 'civil war' again with the US and the Taliban failing to reach a peace deal, a media report said Monday.

The search for peace in the war-torn country remained elusive so far despite hectic efforts to end the bloodshed.

The US last week resumed peace talks with the Afghan Taliban in Doha, Qatar as part of ongoing efforts to seek a political end to the 18-year long conflict, the Express Tribune reported.

The Afghan Grand Council, commonly known as Loya Jirga, convened by President Ashraf Ghani ended on Friday with unanimous calls for peace with the Taliban. Ghani offered the Taliban ceasefire and promised to release 175 Taliban prisoners ahead of the holy month of Ramazan.

These developments may have renewed hopes for a peace deal but internal assessment by Pakistan presents a grim picture.

"We do not want to be pessimistic, but the situation on the ground suggests that there is a remote chance of the ongoing talks between the Taliban and the US leading to any peace deal," said a senior Pakistani official, who is part of the team dealing with Afghan affairs.

His perspective was part of a broader internal assessment of Pakistan about the future of Afghanistan.

The crux of that assessment, exclusively shared by a senior official with the paper, is that Afghanistan in all likelihood is heading towards 'civil war'.

The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that there were a number of factors which, according to Pakistan, might push Afghanistan towards further unrest.

The key factor includes the deepening divide within Afghan society on the future of their country.

Even at the recently held Loya Jirga, several prominent Afghan politicians - including Ghani's government partner Dr Abdullah Abdullah - boycotted the gathering of over 3,000 delegates.

Also, the Taliban are not willing to hold direct talks with the government.

"This speaks volume of the challenge Afghans have to deal with,"&nbsp;the official added.

The flip-flop approach by the US is also adding to the complexity of the Afghan problem. "People, who were all those years kept in Guantanamo Bay, today are sitting across the table with Americans to discuss the peace deal."

In the present situation, according to Pakistan's assessment, there are more chances of Afghanistan slipping into the civil war' than reaching a peace deal.

However, the official said the 'civil war' did not necessarily mean the Taliban would return to Kabul.

"After the Soviets left Afghanistan in 1989, it took the Taliban more than six years to overpower their adversaries," he recalled.

When asked whether Pakistan was concerned at being made a 'scapegoat' in case peace efforts collapsed, the official insisted that Islamabad could not be blamed for any failure.

"We have now very limited influence over the Taliban," the official claimed.

It is believed that in view of the grim perspective of any political solution, Pakistan is now trying to maintain a low profile in those talks.

Unlike, the earlier talks held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Pakistan is not directly taking part in the ongoing Doha parleys, although it has facilitated the process.

When asked if Pakistan was preparing to deal with possible negative fallout of no peace deal in the neighbouring country, the official said 'contingency plans' were being worked out.

One area that Pakistan has been working on for a couple of years is to fence the long and porous border with Afghanistan.

The fencing is primarily meant to ensure better border security and control the irregular movement of people, something that militants always take advantage of.

In the event of further instability, there is a fear of a new influx of refugees.

"The fencing," Pakistan believes, "can help manage the chaos as people are allowed to cross the border only on designated points.

"The absence of any political solution will likely jeopardise Pakistan's plan to ensure the return of more than 2.5 million registered and unregistered Afghan refugees," the official admitted.&nbsp;

Pakistan's internal assessment about the future of Afghanistan sees the neighbouring country engulfed in a 'civil war' again with the US and the Taliban failing to reach a peace deal, a media report said Monday.

Pakistan's internal assessment about the future of Afghanistan sees the neighbouring country engulfed in a 'civil war' again with the US and the Taliban failing to reach a peace deal, a media report said Monday. The search for peace in the war-torn country remained elusive so far despite hectic efforts to end the bloodshed. The US last week resumed peace talks with the Afghan Taliban in Doha, Qatar as part of ongoing efforts to seek a political end to the 18-year long conflict, the Express Tribune reported. The Afghan Grand Council, commonly known as Loya Jirga, convened by President Ashraf Ghani ended on Friday with unanimous calls for peace with the Taliban. Ghani offered the Taliban ceasefire and promised to release 175 Taliban prisoners ahead of the holy month of Ramazan. These developments may have renewed hopes for a peace deal but internal assessment by Pakistan presents a grim picture. "We do not want to be pessimistic, but the situation on the ground suggests that there is a remote chance of the ongoing talks between the Taliban and the US leading to any peace deal," said a senior Pakistani official, who is part of the team dealing with Afghan affairs. His perspective was part of a broader internal assessment of Pakistan about the future of Afghanistan. The crux of that assessment, exclusively shared by a senior official with the paper, is that Afghanistan in all likelihood is heading towards 'civil war'. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that there were a number of factors which, according to Pakistan, might push Afghanistan towards further unrest. The key factor includes the deepening divide within Afghan society on the future of their country. Even at the recently held Loya Jirga, several prominent Afghan politicians - including Ghani's government partner Dr Abdullah Abdullah - boycotted the gathering of over 3,000 delegates. Also, the Taliban are not willing to hold direct talks with the government. "This speaks volume of the challenge Afghans have to deal with," the official added. The flip-flop approach by the US is also adding to the complexity of the Afghan problem. "People, who were all those years kept in Guantanamo Bay, today are sitting across the table with Americans to discuss the peace deal." In the present situation, according to Pakistan's assessment, there are more chances of Afghanistan slipping into the civil war' than reaching a peace deal. However, the official said the 'civil war' did not necessarily mean the Taliban would return to Kabul. "After the Soviets left Afghanistan in 1989, it took the Taliban more than six years to overpower their adversaries," he recalled. When asked whether Pakistan was concerned at being made a 'scapegoat' in case peace efforts collapsed, the official insisted that Islamabad could not be blamed for any failure. "We have now very limited influence over the Taliban," the official claimed. It is believed that in view of the grim perspective of any political solution, Pakistan is now trying to maintain a low profile in those talks. Unlike, the earlier talks held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Pakistan is not directly taking part in the ongoing Doha parleys, although it has facilitated the process. When asked if Pakistan was preparing to deal with possible negative fallout of no peace deal in the neighbouring country, the official said 'contingency plans' were being worked out. One area that Pakistan has been working on for a couple of years is to fence the long and porous border with Afghanistan. The fencing is primarily meant to ensure better border security and control the irregular movement of people, something that militants always take advantage of. In the event of further instability, there is a fear of a new influx of refugees. "The fencing," Pakistan believes, "can help manage the chaos as people are allowed to cross the border only on designated points. "The absence of any political solution will likely jeopardise Pakistan's plan to ensure the return of more than 2.5 million registered and unregistered Afghan refugees," the official admitted.

Pakistan's assessment says Afghanistan could descend into new 'civil war': Report

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Letterbox campaign helps Afghans cope with silent war of mental health

UK announces $215 million food, water and medical help for Afghanistan

Pakistan's assessment says Afghanistan could descend into new 'civil war': Report