AFGHANISTAN. Herat: The Taliban group announced a three-day nationwide ceasefire during the Muslim religious holiday of Eid Ul Fitr on Monday, the group’s spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said in a tweet.
The group later released a statement on Monday as “directives” to their fighters regarding a three-day Eid ceasefire.
“In order that the Mujahideen again provide a peaceful and secure atmosphere to our compatriots during Eid-ul-Fitr so that they may celebrate this joyous occasion with a greater peace of mind, all Mujahideen of the Islamic Emirate are instructed to halt all offensive operations against the enemy countrywide from the first till the third day of Eid, ” Dr. Naeem, the group’s spokesman in Doha said in a Twitter post, warning that, ” if the enemy conducts any assault or attack against you (Taliban) during these days, stand ready.”
“The Mujahideen must not visit enemy areas nor permit the entrance of enemy personnel into Mujahideen controlled areas, ” he said.
Meanwhile, Afghan officials have welcomed the decision. Fraidoon Khwazoon, a spokesman for Abdullah Abdullah, chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation of Afghanistan, said that they ahve welcomed the Taliban’s ceasefire announcement.
Meanwhile, the UN-Led peace conference in Turkey which was postponed till Eid by the Turkey foreign ministry due to the Taliban’s refusal is supposed to begin after Eid.
The Eid occasion which is a three-day celebration will begin on Wednesday/Thursday this week depending on the sighting of the moon.
The Taliban’s announcement comes days after a bloody explosion at the entrance door of a school in the Dasht Barchi area of Kabul, that according to the latest death toll 63 people were killed, most of them students, and 170 others wounded. So far no group including the Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack.
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The incident has received widely reactions from foreign embassies in Afghanistan and the UN. On Monday, Pope Francis called for prayers to the affected families and wished peace for Afghanistan.
“Let us pray for the victims of the terrorist attack that took place yesterday in Kabul: an inhuman act that affected many young girls as they left school. Let us pray for every one of them and their families. And may God grant peace to Afghanistan.”
