KABUL (SW) – Haroon Chakansuri, spokesman for the office of president, on Saturday welcomed the three-day ceasefire announced by the Taliban.
Addressing a press conference hours after the announcement by the Taliban, the spokesman said the government hails all moves towards peace, and welcomes the ceasefire announced by the Taliban. He expressed hope the Taliban would ensure implementation of this ceasefire. “The government welcomes all moves, small or big, that helps save the life of even a single Afghan”.
However, some analysts are skeptical towards this move, and believe the Taliban simply want to mend public opinion in their favor with such a move.
Mirza Mohammad Yarmand, former deputy minister at the Ministry of Interior, told Salam Watandar the Taliban want to score points by announcing ceasefire while vowing to attack foreign troops. Javed Kohistani, analyst on security affairs, stressed there are many groups among the Taliban, particularly those under the clout of Pakistan who do not want peace, and the government should be wary of them.
However, the Taliban’s temporary ceasefire has been widely hailed as a positive step forward. This followed a unilateral ceasefire announced earlier in the week by President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani.
ENDS
