India welcomes unprecedented move of Afghanistan extending ceasefire with Taliban

New Delhi, June 18: India on Sunday welcomed Afghanistan’s decision of extending the ceasefire with Taliban with an aim to make peace in the country.

 

The External Affairs Ministry in a statement said, "We welcome the decision of President Ghani to announce a ceasefire and its extension. We hope this gesture would be reciprocated by armed groups and their supporters with complete cessation of terrorist violence.”

“We support all efforts that can bring relief to the long-suffering of the friendly people of Afghanistan; pave the way for a truely Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled peace and reconciliation process in an atmosphere free from terror and violence; and help build a peaceful, secure, inclusive, prosperous, united and pluralistic Afghan nation," it added.

Notably, on Saturday Afghan President Ashraf Ghani announced the government's extension of a ceasefire with the Taliban without giving a timeframe. In a televised address to the nation, Ghani called for the Taliban to also extend the truce, which expired on Sunday after both sides agreed to halt hostilities for Eid.

Ghani also said that in the spirit of Eid and the ceasefire, the attorney general's office had released 46 Taliban prisoners. “However, the fighting against other armed groups such as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) will continue,” he added.

Meanwhile, the ISIL has claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing that killed at least 36 people and wounded 65 others in the eastern Afghan province of Nangarhar on Saturday.

Earlier, looking at the holy festival of Eid Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani announced a temporary ceasefire with the Taliban terror outfit till June 20 of this year. A day after Taliban too agreed for the ceasefire with the Afghan government.