Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani welcomed the Taliban’s ceasefire announcement and extended the offer of peace. In its Twitter, the Taliban declared a three-day Eid ceasefire in Afghanistan starting Sunday.
As Eid comes, the Taliban declared a three-day Eid ceasefire in Afghanistan starting Sunday. According to tweet on Saturday from the hardline Islamist group, the fighting between the sides should stop for a while.
Afghani President Ghani hailed such a move, saying that the move came as fighting between the two sides had intensified despite the coronavirus pandemic, Reuters reported.
According to Zabihullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman, during Eid special days, the sides shouldn’t carry out any fighting.
“Do not carry out any offensive operations against the enemy anywhere, if any action is taken against you by the enemy, defend yourself,” Mujahid tweeted and added that the ceasefire was declared solely for Eid festivities marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan.
Ashraf Ghani welcomed the Taliban’s move.
Last month, the Taliban rejected a government call for a ceasefire across Afghanistan for Ramadan, saying a truce was “not rational” as they ramped up attacks on Afghan forces.
The Taliban’s decision to announce a ceasefire was highly appreciated by the United States Secretary of State. Mike Pompeo wrote on Twitter that he welcomes the announcements by the Taliban and the Afghan government of a three-day Eid ceasefire. As the top American diplomat reiterated, this presents ‘a tremendous opportunity for Afghans to overcome other obstacles and move urgently to intra Afghan negotiations that end the war.’
At least 146 civilians were killed and 430 wounded by the Taliban during Ramadan, Javid Faisal, a spokesman for the country’s main intelligence and security office in Kabul, said on Saturday.
