KABUL (SW) – President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani has called on the Taliban to accept a permanent humanitarian ceasefire in order to establish lasting peace in the country.
He said this in response to the assassination of Ayub Gharwal, deputy head of the Paktia Provincial Council who was killed in by unknown gunmen in Gardez.
The Presidential Palace said in a statement that achieving lasting peace is one of the goals of the intra-Afghan talks, and to achieve this goal, the Taliban must accept the permanent ceasefire desired by the Afghan people and the government.
Ghani also condemned the assassination of Asif Khan Tokhi, head of security at the police headquarters in Paktika.
Amrullah Saleh, the first vice president, said in this regard: "The Taliban are increasing their criminal record every day as the war in the country continues."
Separately, Assadullah Saadati, the deputy head of the High Council of National Reconciliation, said during a moot here on Saturday that efforts are being made to remove obstacles to peace in the country.
Attacks on individuals and security forces have intensified as direct talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban opened in Doha on Saturday last week.
ENDS
