The Afghan government and the militant Islamist Taliban have agreed on a three-day ceasefire. After the surprising announcement by the Islamist militia to temporarily stop all attacks from Sunday, President Ashraf Ghani announced on Saturday evening that the Afghan army would also take a three-day break from fighting.
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“I welcome the Taliban’s announcement of a ceasefire,” Ghani wrote on Twitter. In the event of an attack, the army would defend itself.
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The Taliban had previously announced that it would refrain from “offensive operations against the enemy” during the upcoming Eid-al-Fitr holiday. The three-day festival of breaking the fast will mark the end of the Muslim month of fasting from Sunday Ramadan celebrated.
Fighters should defend themselves against attacks
The Taliban instructed their followers not to enter areas of the “enemy”. In the same way, you don’t want to let “the other side” into the controlled areas. However, the fighters should defend themselves against attacks.
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On February 29, the United States signed an agreement with the Taliban to phase out international troops. The government in Kabul was not involved because the Taliban refused to speak to it directly. The deal involves a prisoner exchange and is intended to pave the way for peace talks.
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The conflict in Afghanistan loomed after a series of attacks escalate recently. President Ghani announced a renewed offensive against terrorist groups on 12 May after attacks on a clinic and a funeral with dozens of dead. The Taliban interpreted this as a declaration of war. The UN mission in Afghanistan called for a ceasefire and reduction of violence. One has been around for a week domestic dispute in Kabul settled after months, but the conflict continues.
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Stoltenberg: “Use the opportunity for peace”
NATO-General Secretary Jens Stoltenberg said about the ceasefire: “All parties should use this opportunity for peace – for the benefit of all Afghans.” The US envoy for Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, spoke of an “important opportunity”. The ceasefire is an opportunity to give the peace process new momentum, Khalilzad wrote on Twitter.
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Now the next steps would have to be taken “immediately”: the agreed release of Taliban prisoners, a reduction in violence and the establishment of a starting date for intra-Afghan peace negotiations, Khalilzad wrote. Although the process continues to face “difficult challenges,” these could be overcome as long as the leaders of both sides focused on the interests of the Afghan people.
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They announced two years ago Taliban a ceasefire during Ramadan. At that time there were unusual pictures and meetings between insurgents and government troops. It was the first ceasefire after 17 years of armed insurrection and at that time raised hope for reconciliation.
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