KABUL (SW) – President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani on Friday pledged to release 175 Taliban inmates as a goodwill gesture in the holy month of Ramadan.
He said this addressing the concluding session of the Loya Jirga (grand consultative council of elders) for peace here. Ghani said this move is aimed at showing respect to the recommendation made by the Loya Jirga participants for peace in the country. He said peace and harmony should be gifted to the masses during the forthcoming month of Ramadan instead of more bloodshed.
President Ghani urged the Taliban to shun violence, join the peace process and take part in the reconstruction of the country. He emphasized making peace does not mean retreat, and the Afghan National Security and Defense Forces are determined to defend the country and their fellow countrymen. He added the Kabul government wishes to turn Afghanistan into a transit corridor for the supply of energy between south and central Asia. The President said the Loya Jirga has paved way to expedite measures in this regard.
Ghani clarified the peace deal does not amount to the withdrawal of international partners from Afghanistan but transformation of the military partnership into economic cooperation.
Emphasizing upon the importance of peace, Ghani said it would bring investment worth billions of dollars that would also help create jobs. He added peace in Afghanistan would also bring lasting economic prosperity in neighboring Pakistan. The President said the two neighbors can transform the confrontational politics into ties based on mutual cooperation and trust.
He hailed the U.S. efforts for peace in Afghanistan, and underlined that the two countries are strategic partners.
The President said the government is ready and willing to approve the recommendation for ceasefire by the Loya Jirga participants, but this act should not be one-sided. He said the government is ready to discuss the technical aspect of the ceasefire.
ENDS