Taliban has reportedly rejected the call for ceasefire during Eid Al-Adha

The Taliban militant group’s leadership has reportedly rejected the call by the government for a ceasefire during Eid Al-Adha, due to kick off from tomrrow across Afghanistan.

Two Taliban commanders, privy of the development, have told Reuters that their supreme leader rejected President Ashraf Ghani’s Sunday offer of a three-month ceasefire, beginning with this week’s Eid al-Adha Muslim holiday.

“Our leadership feels that they’ll prolong their stay in Afghanistan if we announced a ceasefire now,” a senior Taliban commander, who declined to be identified, told Reuters.

President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani on Sunday announced a conditional ceasefire with the Taliban group during Eid Ald-Adha.

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President Ghani clarifies stance regarding the demands for Eid ceasefire

President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani says consultative meetings are underway regarding the announcement of a ceasefire during Eid Al-Adha and that the government would announce its decision in the light of consultations and recommendations being offered to the government.

He made the remarks during a meeting with the members of the High Peace Council and the Ulemas Council of Afghanistan.

President Ghani further added that peace is one of the main demands of the nation, emphasizing that a national consensus exist regarding the peace process as he was pointing towards the Fatwas of the religious scholars and consultative meetings he had with different sects.

President Ghani also added that he respects the demands of the Ulemas and High Peace Council members regarding the ceasefire, insisting that the ceasefire should be bilateral and the main aim should peace.

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US and Saudi officials discuss Afghan government’s likely ceasefire with Taliban

The US and Saudi officials have discussed the likely announcement of ceasefire by the Afghan government with the Taliban group during Eid Al-Adha.

“Secretary Michael R. Pompeo spoke today with SAudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman,” the State Department said in a statement.

The statement further added that the Secretary and the Crown Prince discussed their support for a ceasefire in Afghanistan over the coming Eid, and peace in Afghanistan more broadly.

No further details were given regarding the discussion about the likely ceasefire in Afghanistan.

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Ghani says government working on ceasefire with Taliban in Eid Al-Adha

President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani says the government is working on ceasefire with the Taliban group during Eid Al-Adha.

Speaking during a meeting with the representatives of the registered political parties, President Ghani pointed towards the successful experience of the ceasefire with the Taliban during Eid Al-Fitr and said the government is working on a similar ceasefire during the upcoming Eid Al-Adha, according to the Office of the President, ARG Palace.

This comes as a Presidential spokesperson, Haroon Chakhansuri had earlier said that there are chances of another ceasefire announcement with the Taliban group during Eid Al-Adha.

Speaking to reporters in Kabul nearly two weeks ago, Chakhansuri further added that signs of interests are seen on all sides, the government and Taliban, to declare another ceasefire during the upcoming.

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Afghan forces can launch operations in cities during ongoing ceasefire

The cities and highways have not been included in the government’s unilateral ongoing ceasefire with Taliban and that the Afghan security forces can launch operations in these areas, a reliable government source told Ariana News on Monday.

According to the source, the Afghan security forces would target the gatherings of the Taliban in these areas.

The Interior Ministry did not comment in this regard but stressed on preserving the government’s unilateral ceasefire with the Taliban.

“We are fully preserving the ceasefire, and the security and defense forces have been ordered to react in case of any action being taken from the other side,” the ministry spokesman Najib Danish said.

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Ghani pledges to ‘conditionally’ extend ceasefire with Taliban by one year

President Ashraf Ghani on Tuesday welcomed the Helmand peace convoy in Kabul who have arrived in the capital Kabul after crossing some 700kilometters on foot, calling an end to the nearly 17-year-old war in the country.

In the meeting with the president which was held outside the Presidential Palace, the peace activists run through a list of demands including the extension of ceasefire between the government and the Taliban, a venue for peace talks and a “joint system” that could preserve the interests of all citizens.

Head of the convoy Iqbal Khyber said that once peace and stability have been maintained in the country, foreign troops must withdraw from Afghanistan and that thereafter, the international community should support the country.

The activists also said that they will continue their move until their demands were addressed.

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Ghani extends duration of ceasefire with the Taliban group

President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani on Saturday announced the extension of the period of ceasefire with the Taliban group until an unspecified time.

In his televised speech to the nation, President Ghani said the decision has been taken in consideration with the available consensus on government level as well as the Taliban ranks and on international community level.

He said Afghans want peace and pointed towards the Eid prayers offered jointly by the Taliban and government personnel as a good example of the available consensus for peace.

President Ghani further added that the environment was completely changed during Eid prayers in the mosques across the country, including Logar, Kandahar, Faryab, Kunduz, Zabul, Maidan Shahr, Nangarhar, and Laghman, with the Ulemas focusing and emphasizing on the value, importance, and the need of peace from the perspective of Islam.

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