Afghan anniversary

Today, to mark the ninth anniversary of the US-UK invasion of Afghanistan, we are holding a "remembrance ceremony" opposite Downing Street. For nine hours we will be reading the names of Afghan civilians and British soldiers killed in the war – a "crime" for which several of us have previously been convicted. Opinion polls show that majorities in both Britain (64%) and Afghanistan (65%) support genuine peace negotiations with the Taliban to end the war. However, the US continues to block a possible peace, prioritising "Afghanising" the war over negotiating its end ( World briefing , 6 October). Dutch troops withdrew in August, Canada is leaving next year and three-quarters of the British public support the withdrawal of British troops either "immediately" or "soon" . It's time to terminate British support for this immoral and unwinnable war. Maya Anne Evans, Milan Rai, Gabriel Carlyle, Susan Clarkson