KABUL (SW) – President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani on the first day of Eid urged upon the Taliban to extend the peace process and join the peace process.
Addressing a gathering at the Arg (presidential palace) after the Eid prayers, President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani said the government is ready to take further steps towards the Afghan-owned and Afghan-led peace process following the unilateral and unconditional ceasefire announced by the government last week for eight days.
He expressed the wish the cease-fire would continue to end bloodshed. “There is strong support and consensus on the peace process among Afghans, the nation is ready to continue its support for peace at any cost, and the government is ready to take steps in this regard on the will of the nation”.
About the electoral process, the president said Afghans have no other option to determine their future but through the elections. He expressed pleasure over the fact that six million citizens have already registered for the polls.
The president thanked the international community, the U.S, the U.K, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and EU and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization for backing the peace initiative in Afghanistan.
This comes as the government declared eight-days of ceasefire on the 27th of Ramadan while the Taliban responded with a three-day truce from the first day of Eid on Friday.
ENDS
