UN Welcomes Temporary Ceasefire by Afghan Government

UN Envoy Welcomes Temporary Ceasefire by Afghan Government; Urges Taliban to Reciprocate

UNAMA chief Tadamichi Yamamoto commended the authorities for the preparedness they expressed “to initiate, in good faith, any steps to toward a formal peace process.”

“The way forward must not rely on a military solution but rather a democratic process, and I once again urge the Taliban to take up President [Ashraf] Ghani’s peace offer and start direct talks with the Government to put an end to the suffering of the Afghan people.”

The ceasefire, announced by the Government starts on the 27th of Ramadan (12 June) and will run through the end of Ramadan to fifth day of Eid-ul-Fitr. The international military presence in the country has also indicated that it will honour the pause in fighting.

It follows the Afghan Government’s call for unconditional peace talks with the Taliban at the Kabul Process II conference in the Afghan capital in February, according to UNAMA.

The announcement also comes on the back of calls by more than 2,000 religious scholars who had gathered this week in the capital, Kabul, to denounce the ongoing conflict and urge all warring sides to embrace peace added the UN mission.

“The UN continues to stand with all Afghans in solidarity, and remains committed, along with the broader international community, to an Afghan-led peace process that will end the war,” it said.

ENDS

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