Afghan president Ghani announces conditional ceasefire with Taliban for Eid al-Adha holiday; Taliban yet to respond

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Afghan president Ghani announces conditional ceasefire with Taliban for Eid al-Adha holiday; Taliban yet to respond. “We urge the Taliban leadership to get ready for peace talks based on Islamic values and principles,” Ghani said, adding that the Afghan government has removed “all obstacles for a long lasting peace through these unprecedented steps.”

However, the Taliban group, which has repeatedly rejected an offer for peace talks with the Afghan government, has yet to react to President Ghani’s offer for ceasefire. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo welcomed the ceasefire and said the United States was ready to support and facilitate direct peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban.
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani calls for a conditional cease-fire with Taliban insurgents for the duration of the Eid al-Adha holiday.