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Afghanistan announced on Thursday a week-long ceasefire with the Taliban for the Eid holiday, though operations against other groups including the militant group Islamic State (IS), will continue.
The ceasefire will last “from the 27th of Ramazan until the fifth day of Eidul Fitr,” Afghan President Ashraf Ghani tweeted from an official account, indicating it could run from June 12-19.
It was not immediately clear if the Taliban had agreed to the ceasefire. A spokesman for the militants told AFP they were “checking with our officials” regarding the announcement.
The surprise move comes days after a gathering of Afghanistan's top clerics in the capital Kabul issued a fatwa against suicide bombings and attacks.
An hour after the fatwa was issued, a suicide bomb was detonated outside the gathering, killing seven people.
Ghani said his government supported the clerics' call.
“The government of Afghanistan not only supports the unanimous fatwa announcement by the ulemas (scholars), but also backs the recommended ceasefire,” he said in a statement released by his office.
“(At) the same time, the Afghan government directs all the security and defence forces of the country... to stop all the attacks on the Taliban, but the operation will continue against Daesh (IS), Al-Qaeda and other international terrorist networks.”
In February, Ghani unveiled a plan to open peace talks with the Taliban, including eventually recognising them as a political party.
The insurgents did not officially respond, but announced the launch of their annual spring offensive in an apparent rejection of the plan, one of the most comprehensive ever offered by the Afghan government.
For more live updates, follow Dawn.com's official news Instagram account @dawn.today
Comments (12) Closed
Good decision. Hope this sacred decision will last forever peace and ceasefire.
Its the Taliban who have to announce ceasefire, Not the government!
Afghan taliban should kickout usa and ghani govt asap
The announce ceasefire between them every few months, only to resume fighting and attack each other with more ferocity within days of the announcement.
Who are they kidding? There is no solution to Afghanistan's problems except through dialogue and compromise.
Taliban doesn't believe in peace.
Why not make permanent ceasefire with Taliban? Negotiate with give and take.
The real question is - will the US too announce a ceasefire? Why would one party stop attacks if the other continues
What other options do they have at this crucial juncture in time and history?
Cease Fire is not good enough. Afganistan people and to some extent Pakistani are suffering from war from almost 40 years. People have forgotten how to smile and forgotten about comfarts in life. People of Afganistan/ Pakistan think they are more close to death/ explosions and sufferings of war then anything else. My appeal to all those that matters is think about peace, love and tolerance. People who have come from 1000 miles away have nothing to suffer. They have their own priorities. Say thank you to them and start thinking of ending war and bring peace.
Bad decision.
The new generation of Afganistan wantseace, prosperity and quality education to stand shoulder to shoulder with the international community.
What a joke statement. Ceasefire should last forever and not during Eid only.