Kathy Kelly is the co-coordinator of Voices for Creative Nonviolence, a campaign to end U.S. military and economic warfare. She has made many trips to Afghanistan and after a recent trip, she filed this report about the Afghans’ profound desire to end 40 years of war.

A mural created to greet the Helmand to Kabul peace walkers in Afghanistan

Her report comes days after Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani declared a weeklong halt to attacks against the Taliban. Spokespersons representing a number of Taliban affiliates accepted the ceasefire on June 9, with the United States also agreeing to suspend attacks against Taliban fighters.

But can a ceasefire lead to lasting peace? Kelly reflects on that and more, here.