ISLAMABAD: Afghan Ambassador Dr Omar Zakhilwal on Thursday acknowledgedPakistan’s role in the Eid ceasefire in Afghanistan.

Speaking at Ideas Conclave 2018, hosted by the Jinnah Institute, the envoysaid: “I must acknowledge Pakistan did have a role in the ceasefire and weare thankful for that.”

This was the first public acknowledgement of Pakistan’s role in theshort-lived ceasefire by any Afghan official although it was widelyspeculated that Pakistan had pushed Taliban to reciprocate President AshrafGhani’s unilateral announcement of cessation of hostilities on the occasionof Eidul Fitr.

Taliban observed the ceasefire for only three days and returned to fightingimmediately after Eid. Despite the bonhomie observed over Eid, the fightingafter Eid was very intense in which scores of Afghan troops lost theirlives. President Ghani initially looked hopeful after the revival ofceasefire, but last week he ordered resumption of counter-terrorismoperations when Taliban showed no signs of flexibility.