KABUL – Hours after the Taliban announced a three-day ceasefire, thePresidential Palace and High Peace Council were among the first to welcomethe decision, saying the Kabul administration appreciates any move whichends bloodshed in the country.
“Afghan government welcomes any move whether it is small or big which stopsbloodshed of even the death of one Afghan. Afghanistan welcomes theceasefire announcement by the Taliban,” President Ashraf Ghani’s spokesmanHaroon Chakhansuri said.
“People of Afghanistan and the High Peace Council are hopping that it willbe a step to start face-to-face talks between Afghan government and armedTaliban,” said Ehsan Taheri, spokesman for the High Peace Council.
Meanwhile, Tamim Asey, the deputy minister of defense for policy andstrategy, said the Afghan forces will discuss the extension of theceasefire if the Taliban remain committed to their decision.
“I hope this ceasefire will turn into a process and as a professional armywe await the president and the Afghan leadership’s order. But thisceasefire is extendable, and it depends on the authority and will of theTaliban and it depends on whether Taliban will be able to make a decisionon war and peace in Afghanistan independently,” he said.
A senior American analyst meanwhile said he is optimistic about theceasefire decision by the two sides.
“Obviously it is very important, and it is very welcomed. Anything thatends bloodshed is very welcomed. As far as I can remember, 40 years offighting since the so-called Saur Revolution, it is the first time that aceasefire has been agreed by various parties to the conflict,” said BarnettRubin, senior expert on Afghanistan and South Asia.
Meanwhile, some MPs called on the Taliban to end the war and accept thepeace offer.
“Taliban should welcome the Afghan government’s ceasefire so that we canachieve peace in our common homeland through intra-Afghan negotiations,”said Abdul Rauf Ibrahimi, Speaker of the Wolesi Jirga, the Lower House ofParliament.
“We call on the two sides that our lives are connected with peace. Peacebrings happiness and peace is an order by the Almighty God,” said SayemaKhogyani, an MP.
People from different parts of the country also welcomed the ceasefire byboth sides – government and the Taliban. They said this should become apermanent ceasefire.
“I call on both sides to respect peace, because peace brings life andprosperity,” said Nazar Mohammad, a resident of Helmand province.
“It is enough. Slaughter and bloodshed are enough in this country. Peopleare tired of war. Peace is their only demand,” said Abdulhaq, a resident ofHelmand.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) also welcomedthe Taliban’s announcement saying that it partially reciprocates the Afghangovernment’s temporary ceasefire.