KABUL (SW) – President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani on Saturday declared to end the unilateral ceasefire announced two weeks ago in hope to revive the stalled peace talks.
Addressing the nation today, the president said the ceasefire has ended, and the armed forces have been directed to resume offensives against the armed rebels across the country. He said there is consensus on national, regional and global levels for peace in Afghanistan.
President Ghani said the government has paved the way for peace, and now the masses should pressure on the Taliban to join the peace process. He said the government fully respects peoples’ will and desire for peace, and now is the time for the Taliban to respect the peoples’ plea for peace.
In response to a question about handing over ‘peace territories’ to the Taliban – an idea floated by forme Mujahedeen leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar – the president made it clear no such idea would be considered that undermines territorial integrity of the country.
ENDS