KABUL – Afghan President, Ashraf Ghani, on Sunday announced a three-month conditional ceasefire with Taliban starting on Monday.
“As we approach Eid-ul-Adha, we announce a ceasefire that would take effect from Monday, the day of Arafa, till the day of the birth of the prophet (PBUH), Milad-un-Nabi, provided that the Taliban reciprocate,” Ghani told a gathering celebrating the Independence Day.
The Afghan leader also called on Taliban leadership to welcome the wishes of Afghans for a long-lasting and real peace.
“We urge the Taliban leadership to get ready for peace talks based on Islamic values and principles,” Ghani said, adding that the Afghan government has removed “all obstacles for a long-lasting peace through these unprecedented steps.”
He said the ceasefire would be implemented for as long as the Taliban respect it.
The president further said he has taken the decision after consulting with segments of Afghan society including religious scholars, political parties, politicians, women and civil society leaders, youth and members of High Peace Council (HPC) in all 34 provinces.
He stressed that the ceasefire came in respect to the wishes of the religious scholars of the Islamic world that were gathered in the holy mosques and to respect the wishes of the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC), the custodians of the two holy mosques, the King of Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan HPC and Ulema Council.
This comes as President Ghani had earlier said that consultative meetings were underway regarding the announcement of a ceasefire during Eid Al-Adha and that the government would announce its decision in the light of consultations and recommendations being offered to the government.
He said it would not be acceptable that there would be ceasefire in part of the country while that conflict would continue in its other parts.
President Ghani vowed that the security forces would be on full alert during the Eid days to prevent the movements of the enemies.
In June, the Afghan government announced a 17-day ceasefire to encourage the Taliban group to support the national reconciliation process.
Reciprocating the government step, the Taliban announced a three-day truce during Eid-ul-Fitr which marked end of fasting month.
