KABUL – President Ashraf Ghani on Sunday evening announced a ceasefire withTaliban.

He said the ceasefire would start on Monday and end on November 19 – whichis three months.

He said the ceasefire would only be implemented if the Taliban respect it.

Ghani said: “As we approach Eid-ul-Adha, and to respect the wishes ofdifferent segments of Afghan society including religious scholars,political parties, politicians, women and civil society leaders, youth andmembers of high peace council in all 34 provinces, and to respect thewishes of the religious scholars of the Islamic world that were gathered inthe holy mosques and to respect the wishes of the Organization of IslamicCountries (OIC) and the custodians of the two-holy mosques, the King ofSaudi Arabia, we announce a ceasefire that would take effect from tomorrow,Monday, the day of Arafa, till the day of the birth of the prophet i.e.,Milad-un-Nabi, (November 19) provided that the Taliban reciprocate.”