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AFGHAN-ANNOUNCE-CEASEFIRE
Afghan president announces end to ceasefire with Taliban, orders security
forces to resume operations
KABUL, June 30, 2018 (BSS/XINHUA) – Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani
announced end to his government’s unilateral ceasefire on Saturday and orders
security forces to resume anti-militants operations in the country.
“Now, it is up to the Taliban’s decision, whether they want to join the
peace process or keep on killing in the country,” Ghani told reporters at a
press conference here.
In efforts to encourage the Taliban militants to support the national
reconciliation process, the president announced a seven-day ceasefire on June
12 and the Taliban outfit in response announced a three-day truce, allowing
Afghans to have peaceful days on Eid ul- Fitr, the second largest religious
festival to mark the end of Ramadan, the Muslim fasting month which ended on
June 17.
President Ghani extended the government ceasefire for another 10 days,
requesting the Taliban outfit to follow suit. However, the militants refused
to extend and instead begun attacking security forces elsewhere in the war-
battered country.
The extension of truce by Ghani has been widely welcomed by Afghans and
people from all walks of life have called upon Taliban militants to
reciprocate the offer.
However, Zabihullah Majahid who claims to speak for the Taliban outfit, in
contact with media has rejected the offer and said that the insurgent outfit
would continue the Jihad or holy war against the Afghan government and
foreign forces stationed in Afghanistan.
President Ghani, however, on Saturday, called upon the Taliban militants to
respect the demand of Afghans for peace and initiate dialogue for returning
lasting peace in the country.
BSS/XINHUA/ARS/1720 hrs