KABUL (SW) – In a landmark development, President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani on Sunday declared a conditional ceasefire against the Taliban ahead of Eid al-Adha, a Muslim festival, effective from Monday.
Addressing a ceremony to mark the 99th Independence Day at the Darul Aman palace in Kabul, Ghani said the ceasefire would last three months provided that the Taliban also respect it. He said the decision has been made after extensive consultation with different segments of the Afghan society and Islamic scholars worldwide.
"As we approach Eid-ul-Adha, and to respect the wishes of different segments of Afghan society including religious scholars, political parties, politicians, women and civil society leaders, youth and members of high peace council in all 34 provinces, and to respect 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 Cooperation (OIC) and the custodians of the two-holy mosques, the King of Saudi Arabia, we announce a ceasefire that would take effect from tomorrow, Monday, the day of Arafa, till the day of the birth of the prophet i.e., Milad-un-Nabi, (November 19) provided that the Taliban reciprocate”, the president said.
This follows deadly assaults by the Taliban in a number of provinces across the country.
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